"I lost to him a couple of weeks ago - I had to set it straight" - Mike De Decker gains revenge to set up showdown with Luke Humphries in Budapest

Mike De Decker secured his place in the last 16 of the 2025 Hungarian Darts Trophy on Saturday night. The Belgian produced an excellent display in Budapest, easing past Tom Bissell with a convincing 6-2 victory. It was the perfect response to a recent defeat against the same opponent, something which clearly gave him added motivation

Afterwards, De Decker admitted there was a personal point to prove. “Well, I lost to him a couple of weeks ago in a Pro Tour, so I had to set something straight,” he said. “But it’s the same as it has been all year: practising really well, then going on stage and not so well. Hopefully I can get it back tomorrow.”

That “tomorrow” will bring an even bigger test, with world number one Luke Humphries waiting in the last 16. The pair first crossed paths back in 2016 on the Development Tour and have since faced each other many times in major matches. For De Decker, their encounters always carry an extra edge — not least because he beat Humphries in last year’s World Grand Prix final to claim the biggest title of his career.

“Yeah, of course, because he’s still the number one in the world and we always have good games, so hopefully again tomorrow,” De Decker said.

De Decker was also lifted by the atmosphere inside the Budapest venue. At times the noise was striking, and he couldn’t help but smile when asked about the support. “Actually they were from Holland, because all of a sudden they started singing about Max Verstappen, so they were from Holland. But hey, it’s lovely. I did see a couple of Belgian flags as well. It’s nice going to a different country and still getting that support.”

That show of Benelux solidarity underlines the growing impact of darts in both Belgium and the Netherlands. While the Dutch have long been established as a darting powerhouse, Belgium is rapidly making its mark with players like Dimitri Van den Bergh and De Decker himself breaking through internationally. The warm reception in Budapest also reflects the sport’s growing reach into central Europe.

De Decker’s win takes him into the last 16, where the stakes inevitably rise higher. Yet he seems to be approaching the clash with Humphries with both respect and quiet determination. He knows the challenge of facing the best player in the world, but he also knows he has the game to cause problems.

If his practice form can finally translate fully onto the stage, De Decker could be capable of another upset. Victory over Humphries would not only give his tournament a huge lift but also strengthen his position on the world rankings.