“I didn’t expect to get the call-up” – Mike De Decker admits he thought he’d burnt World Series bridges after outburst at the PDC

Mike De Decker made a winning start to his World Series of Darts debut in Wollongong, overcoming Australian hopeful Brandon Weening 6–2 in tricky on-stage conditions. Despite an unconvincing average of just 80, the Belgian did enough to progress and embraced the wider experience of life on the World Series tour.

“Well, it's been fun coming to Australia,” De Decker smiled in his post-match press conference afterwards. “It was less fun being on stage ‘cause it's a bit cold up there. I was blowing my hands the whole game. But I got the win, so I'm happy with that.”

While the scoreline suggests a straightforward result, De Decker’s performance fell short of his recent standards — a fact he readily acknowledged. Conditions on stage were a factor, with the 28-year-old struggling to get a grip — quite literally. “When my hands are cold, I don't have any grip on the darts,” he explained. “Normally my darts stick up — upright — and now they were going a bit flat. It just doesn't feel well if you don't have any grip. That's why I was blowing the whole game as well, trying to get them warm, but it wasn't really working.”

Asked how he might deal with it ahead of his next match, he had a practical (if uncertain) plan: “I'll probably wash my hands with really hot water before I have to go on stage. Maybe that helps — I don't know.”

Despite the apparent winter chill inside the venue, the conditions outside weren’t exactly frosty. “In Australia, they call it winter, but it's still 20 degrees — so that's not winter,” he joked.

The match in Wollongong marked De Decker’s first World Series appearance — an experience that’s a world away from the usual rhythm of the Pro Tour or European Tour. The travel, media responsibilities, and added spectacle have all been part of the learning curve. “Well, it's nice to be part of it,” he said.

“It's nice to be doing something else than just going to the venue and playing the tournament. There's a lot more to it. I'm used to 50-minute flights as well, so all of a sudden I have to fly for like a full day — that's a bit weird. But like I said, I'm really happy to be here and really happy that the PDC invited me.”

In between practice sessions and stage matches, De Decker’s been taking the opportunity to explore. “It's nice to go sightseeing in Australia. I went to Sydney a couple of days back — so yeah, it's been really nice being here.”

He’s not doing it alone either — teaming up with Australia’s own Damon Heta for a bit of local guidance. “Yeah, we went to the Opera House, had food there, and then we went to the zoo. After the zoo, we went through the centre of Sydney,” he recalled. “It's nice to have someone from Australia knowing the places, guiding you through Sydney. It was really nice seeing different parts of the world.”

And as for the wildlife? “Yeah, I was scared of some of the animals — but they were behind glass, so it's fine!”

This invitation comes less than a year after De Decker’s breakout win at the World Grand Prix, and only a few months after he declined a spot at the Dutch Darts Masters. That decision, and the Premier League discussions that followed, generated some headlines — making this World Series call-up feel all the more meaningful.

“Yeah, I didn't expect getting the call-up for this and for New Zealand,” he admitted. “So I was surprised — but it was a nice surprise. It's nice to get the recognition of what you did as well. If I didn't win the Grand Prix last year, I wouldn't be in these events. So it's nice to get the recognition.”

That recognition now gives him a chance to test himself against the top names on a global stage — with world number one Luke Humphries waiting in the next round. “Doesn’t matter who it is — the performance needs to be better,” De Decker said. “Hopefully it's a bit warmer tomorrow so I don't have to blow my hands during the full game. But yeah, it definitely needs to be a lot better.”

Playing against local talent like Weening brings with it a unique challenge. The crowd is firmly behind the home player, and there’s an expectation for the PDC professionals to deliver — especially when travelling across the globe. “Yeah, a little bit,” De Decker said when asked if he felt that pressure. “As well with all the interviews I did after the lineup of the Premier League and declining the one in Holland. So yeah, there was a little bit of pressure. But I'm into round two.”

The environment is different, the faces are unfamiliar, and even the routine is out of sync — but for De Decker, that’s all part of the appeal. “It's just the whole environment — being in a different country, meeting different people,” he explained. “When you play in majors, it's mostly in the UK and you know all the people there. Now you see different people — also the Australian players. It's really nice to be here and to meet all of them.”

While some players — like James Wade — opted to skip the World Series in favour of family time or rest, De Decker has taken the opposite route. “If it wasn't for this, I had three weeks off and I was planning a holiday,” he said. “So basically I have a holiday work trip now — to Wollongong and Auckland. It's a bonus.”

The Belgian isn’t just clocking up air miles — he’s collecting experiences that matter to him on a personal level, as well as professionally. “It's not all about darts,” he reflected. “So yeah — seeing Sydney, seeing parts of Australia, and then after this going to New Zealand — it's just all experience. And it's a nice experience. Can it make you a better player? Maybe. We'll see in the future.”