ANALYSIS: Five Belgians at the 2026 World Darts Championship – and the surprise name tipped to go furthest

The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship begins this Thursday at Alexandra Palace. For the first time in history, five Belgian players have qualified for the traditional end-of-year showpiece.

That record is something of a surprise given the underwhelming season most Belgian players have had, although it is also less shocking when you consider the expansion of the field to 128 players.

Before looking ahead, it is worth returning briefly to last year’s World Championship. Only three Belgians made it through to Ally Pally then, and it was anything but a success. On the opening day, Kim Huybrechts lost 3-1 to Keane Barry. Two days later, Mike De Decker exited the tournament by the same score against Luke Woodhouse. Dimitri Van den Bergh did win 3-0 against Dylan Slevin in round one, but was then heavily beaten 4-0 by Callan Rydz.

Since then, Belgian players have had few highlights on the PDC Pro Tour. Below is an early look ahead at Belgium’s five representatives at the upcoming World Darts Championship.

At the end of last year, Mike De Decker looked ready to fully break through at the top level, winning at the World Grand Prix and later reaching the quarter finals of the Players Championship Finals. However, the 29-year-old found it difficult to fully back that up this season. De Decker switched to Mission Darts and struggled throughout the year to settle on the right setup. His climb towards the top 10 stalled, though it was certainly not all bad.

He reached the final of the Belgian Darts Open on home soil and, on debut at the World Series of Darts, made the final of the Australian Darts Masters. His best major result was a quarter final at the World Series Finals. De Decker admitted he had spent too few hours at the practice board and planned to correct that ahead of the Worlds.

At Ally Pally, The Real Deal opens against Kenyan debutant David Munyua, a match he would normally expect to win. In round two he would face Kevin Doets or Matthew Dennant. A likely third-round tie would put him up against Nathan Aspinall.

Getting through two rounds looks entirely possible, even if his confidence is not sky-high right now. A third-round meeting with Aspinall would be the first real test of how far De Decker can aim this year.

For a long time he was Belgium’s number one, but Dimitri Van den Bergh now sits 23rd in the world, several places behind De Decker. He endured a particularly tough season and stepped away from the sport for two months in April due to mental health struggles. The 31-year-old returned for the World Cup of Darts, but that proved unsuccessful. His form was slow to return on the Pro Tour, though he showed signs of improvement late in the year.

Van den Bergh recently told Het Nieuwsblad that the break had been absolutely necessary and that he is mentally fresh again. The DreamMaker has already proven he can produce big performances, having won two majors and reached the semi finals of the World Championship in 2023.

He opens against Scotland’s Darren Beveridge, an opponent he should be able to handle. Victory would set up a second-round clash with Madars Razma or Jamai van den Herik. A probable third-round meeting would be with Gian van Veen, one of this year’s standout performers.

The most experienced Belgian in this year’s field is Kim Huybrechts. The Hurricane is competing at Alexandra Palace for the fifteenth consecutive time. His best run came on debut in 2012, when he reached the quarter finals. Since then, he has had a love-hate relationship with the tournament, mixing early exits with upset wins over Rob Cross and Peter Wright.

Huybrechts had a modest to weak year on the Pro Tour and has slipped to 53rd in the world. However, the 40-year-old thrives on big occasions and cannot be written off. His opening match is immediately an intriguing one against an old foe: Germany’s Arno Merk, the player who beat him in the decisive qualifier for the 2010 BDO World Championship.

If he wins, Huybrechts will face either Peter Wright or Noa-Lynn van Leuven in round two. A potential third-round tie would likely be against Michael van Gerwen — a player Huybrechts enjoys facing and has shocked before. It may be a bold shout, but Huybrechts might well be the Belgian who goes the furthest this year.

The oldest Belgian player at this World Championship returns to Ally Pally after previously appearing in 2024, when he lost 3-1 in the opening round to Thibault Tricole. The 52-year-old from West Flanders has been extremely consistent this season and even reached a Players Championship final.

Super Mario does, however, arrive under pressure. On the live rankings he is currently 64th, just enough to keep his Tour Card. Several players are close behind, meaning he likely needs to win at least one match to secure it.

Vandenbogaerde faces Welsh debutant David Davies in round one. A win would almost certainly set up a round-two meeting with Luke Littler. Progressing beyond that seems unrealistic for now. His goal is clear: win one match, secure the Tour Card, and then enjoy a glamour tie against teenage sensation Littler.

The final Belgian qualifier is Andy Baetens. The 36-year-old from East Flanders won the Belgium-Netherlands qualifying tournament. Baetens won the WDF World Championship in 2023 and then earned his PDC Tour Card, but life in the PDC has been difficult since. For the second year running, he failed to qualify via the Pro Tour but was rescued by the qualifier.

Like Vandenbogaerde, Baetens plays under significant pressure. In his case, he must reach at least the last 16 to keep his Tour Card.

He opens against Dirk van Duijvenbode. Both players can score heavily, but the Dutchman is the favourite based on ranking and previous achievements. Baetens is not without hope, though, if he produces his best. Should he win, he would face the winner of James Hurrell vs Stowe Buntz in round two.