The match started positively for Hercules. He was able to take the throw from his opponent in the very first leg of the first set, but then failed to confirm the break. "Everything was just right. I soaked up a lot, everything was wonderful, everything was great. I also felt great on stage, everything worked well. Only my game didn't work," explained Horvat in an interview with Elmar Paulke on DAZN after the match.
"The preparation was great, the people who are here with me are great, the location, everything is great. Everything was organized. It was only after my first leg that everything kind of went to hell."
If you have followed Horvat's performances in recent months, it quickly becomes clear that with an average of 83.65, he has only just begun to show the performance he is capable of.
"I didn't show what I can do for a minute or a second. Nothing came together. My first dart came, but then the other two didn't come at all. Or the second came, then the first and the third didn't come. It just didn't want to!" the Hessian reflected on his match in retrospect and alluded to the fact that the triples were simply missing in his match.
"It was totally surprising for me, because what I played yesterday and today in the warm-up and in training, it all worked, it worked wonderfully. I wasn't nervous, I wasn't excited either. I had fun! I even had a warm hand, which I hardly ever have when playing darts."
Finally, Horvat praised his opponent's game: "Mike De Decker was really very good on his doubles. He didn't let anything get to him. I should have taken the chances I had. And if you don't take them, you lose. He deserved to win, you can't argue with that."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
𝗗𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗥 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗩𝗔𝗧 🇧🇪
Mike De Decker wraps up a commanding 3-0 victory over Germany’s Dragutin Horvat with a 94.3 average, four 180s and three ton-plus checkouts!
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