"I would've lost this two years ago": Mike de Decker sees resolve in Daniel Klose win despite scrappy display

Mike de Decker is through to the second round of the International Darts Open after seeing off Daniel Klose in Riesa and will now look forward to a clash with Gerwyn Price.

Albeit by his own admission he said it is a match he would've certainly lost two years ago and said that being a major champion now has given him more of a steely determination to scrap through wins like this.

"It wasn't a good game. Not from me not from him. I got it over the line. Hopefully I'll have a better night's rest than I did last night. Hopefully it's a lot better tomorrow as I'll need it," said De Decker post match.

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"In practice everything was going well, I was hitting 180's for fun. I come on stage and I couldn't find my first dart and that's a problem if you're a first dart merchant. I'm glad to get through, hopefully I'll have a good night's sleep and we go again tomorrow (Saturday)."

"I would've lost this two years ago. Now I'm just relaxed and see how it goes. I got some chances here and there. It's a big difference between Mike now and Mike two years ago."

Gerwyn Price as the MC remarked sees Riesa as his house having won the title four times and so De Decker is up against it but he has experience in facing the king of Riesa in his house and so knows what to expect. He hopes it will be on his side on Saturday night.

"I played him here a couple of years ago and we both averaged over 105 and he was the better man. Hopefully we can replicate that game and get the win."

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