Belgian giant-killer revels in PDC debut after win over Mike De Decker: “I had goosebumps during my walk-on”

For Jaimy Jacobs, his surprise run at the Flanders Darts Trophy ended in the first round on Friday. The 35-year-old Belgian lost 6-1 to Niko Springer in Antwerp, but still looked back with satisfaction on his first appearance on a PDC stage. A day earlier, the carpenter had sprung a major surprise by knocking out Mike De Decker during the Host Nation Qualifier.

Jacobs, better known to friends as ‘JJ’, beat De Decker 6-5 in Thursday’s decisive qualifying match. A standout result, although his opponent was anything but a stranger. The two have known each other for years.

“I’ve actually known Mike since he started his career,” Jacobs said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. “So since he was 17, 18. We’re a bit of a fixed clique together with his best friend Ludo. I’m a little older than them; those two are almost like brothers (laughs). I’m mostly happy I finally managed to beat Mike. Usually that’s not the case.”

At the same time, Jacobs was keen not to overstate the win. The Belgian mainly felt he has taken big strides as a player in recent years.

“It’s not like I threw the match of my life. I’ve grown enormously these last years. For instance, I narrowly lost the final of a charity tournament to Kim Huybrechts last year. Since then I’ve moved forward in terms of averages, my throw, handling nerves... I used to stand at the board with the shakes and now that’s much less. And that came out on Thursday.”

He could imagine that their strong bond made the defeat a touch easier to take for the former World Grand Prix champion. “Mike was happy for me, too. I understand it was sour for him, of course, but I think he preferred losing to me rather than someone else.”

A day later, Springer provided a completely different experience. For the first time, Jacobs stood on the big stage at a European Tour event. By his own account the nerves stayed fairly under control, but he could not hit the same level as in qualifying.

“All in all the nerves weren’t too bad; I really expected worse. I always need a bit to settle, so the first leg was getting used to it. But I just couldn’t break through. I also know it was a different setting. It was unfamiliar territory for me.”

During the warm-up, Jacobs felt excellent. Once on stage, that changed. “The nerves were manageable, but it wasn’t like against Mike. Still, the warm-up went really well. Then you walk onto the stage and everything is different. The throw, the board, the surroundings, the atmosphere... You want it a bit too much and then it doesn’t come.”

The result did little to diminish the impact of that first big walk-on. “I had goosebumps during my walk-on. I didn’t really know where to look first, so it all felt a bit awkward (laughs). In any case, an unforgettable experience.”

Jacobs also did not appear in the shirt he originally planned to wear. Because of a sponsor logo on his darts team shirt, he had to switch last minute to a polo from his employer.

“I’m a carpenter by trade, at Martens Hout in Kontich. My boss will be happy with the shirt I wore. I had one from my darts team, but in the end I wasn’t allowed to wear it because it had a big sponsor on it. A shame, because a day earlier they’d said it would be allowed.”

Having his own match shirt wasn’t an option yet. “So I just put on a work polo for my match. My own shirt is still in development, so this tournament came a bit too soon. Pity. I kind of get it, but it’s frustrating that first it was supposedly fine and then the next day suddenly not anymore.”

Despite his eye-catching week in Antwerp, Jacobs has no plans to overhaul his life for a professional darts career. Where he once prioritized football over darts, that has now changed. But his family situation makes many international events hard to fit in.

“I have a girlfriend who works weekends and a little son. So the home situation doesn’t exactly allow me to play many bigger tournaments abroad or so. I’m the typical player who competes close to home. In the Antwerp area I’m a regular and most people in that region know me, I think.”

Jacobs therefore has no explicit ambitions to go all-in as a professional. “I’m 35, I have a son I want to see a lot... It’s hard to combine the darts life with family life.”

A next step isn’t completely off the table, though. A run at Q-School is possible, and another adventure in England already awaits early next year.

“Maybe I’ll do Q-School just to experience it once. And I’m allowed to go to England early next year for the MODUS Super Series, so we’ll show the best of ourselves there.”