"I won’t be starting a TikTok or YouTube channel like others do" - Mike De Decker looking to let his darts do the talking in 2025

Last year, Mike De Decker truly broke through with his first major title at the World Grand Prix. The 29-year-old Belgian quickly became a fan favourite, and this past weekend, he even had his own fan day.

The event took place at Madhouse Dartshop, where hundreds of fans came to meet their favorite player. “It’s crazy to experience something like this,” De Decker told Het Nieuwsblad. “Andy from Madhouse and my mother came up with the idea because the Grand Prix trophy had never been seen in Belgium before. So, to give people a chance to take a picture with it—and with me—this all came together. My new sponsor, Mission, got involved, along with other sponsors, and suddenly, it turned into a pretty big event.”

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For De Decker, adjusting to his newfound fame is still a work in progress. “My life has changed enormously since the end of last year,” he said. “I’ve continued to perform well, even though the start of this season was tough due to switching equipment. But then came that magical weekend in Wieze at the Belgian Darts Open. Reaching a final in front of my home crowd… that really gave me a boost, and now here we are—crazy, isn’t it? Do I enjoy being in the spotlight? You know my answer. But there are positives, too. I’m handling it better than I did a year ago. Fame never really meant anything to me because I don’t like being in the limelight, but there’s no escaping it now,” he laughed.

“Thankfully, I’ve found my way through it,” he continued. “But I still pinch myself sometimes—especially when I’m alone with Ludo (his best friend). He’ll say, ‘Do you even realize what you’ve achieved? It’s unbelievable.’ Just last Friday, we went out to a restaurant, and everyone recognized me. That wouldn’t have happened two years ago. It just shows how much darts has grown here.”

De Decker in action 

For De Decker, who usually enjoys his peace and quiet, the fan event was an intense experience. “By the end of the night, my social battery was completely drained. But that’s normal—it’s a long evening, and everyone wants your attention. But I don’t mind; the goal is for people to have a good time and go home happy. That makes me happy, too. I had to grow into this role, but hey—anything is possible,” he said with a loud laugh.

“I’m also lucky to have great people around me,” The Real Deal added. “They think about my ‘brand,’ as they call it. That’s not really my thing, and I don’t particularly want it to be. I just want to focus on my darts. The rest is secondary. I know it’s important—there’s a financial side, sponsorships… but that’s what my team takes care of. So no, I won’t be starting a TikTok or YouTube channel like others do.”

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Of course, behind every top athlete is a strong partner, and De Decker has found that in Shauni Wastyn, a self-employed beauty specialist from Niel. She came to support him at the Belgian Darts Open earlier this month and was also there for his fan day.

“It’s nice to have that support,” De Decker admitted. “Maybe it even plays a small part in why I’ve been performing so well. We’ve known each other for a long time—since I started playing darts at 17. She used to play, too. Back then, I asked her out once, but it never happened. Not that she said no,” he laughed.

“Recently, I was going to Dubai and knew she had been there before, so I asked if she wanted to come. That ended up being our first date. Most people go out for dinner or to the movies—we went to Dubai for five days. A bit like Married at First Sight, right? She also gets along well with my friends, and for my mother, she’s the perfect daughter-in-law. Honestly, she can do no wrong, so things are going great.”

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