"I'm exhausted... Some rest is going to do me good" - Mike De Decker feels the affects of World Grand Prix heroics at Players Championship 27

Barely two days after his triumph at the World Grand Prix, Mike De Decker has already had to return to action on the Pro Tour. At Players Championship 27, he lost out in the third round to a 6-3 defeat at the hands of Daryl Gurney.

De Decker, who has moved up to 25th in the PDC Order or Merit, had travelled directly from Leicester to Wigan, where two Players Championship events are taking place this week. The 28-year-old Belgian normally plays in a black shirt with yellow sleeve on one side and red sleeve on the other. In his first match (against Graham Hall), which was broadcast on the livestream, however, there was a moment of surprise when De Decker stood darting in a plain grey-blue polo shirt. The reason for why, was explained after, however, as due to the rapid succession of tournaments he had not yet had a chance to wash his shirts.

"They're all in the wash," De Decker laughed in explanation to Het Nieuwsblad. "I had only taken five with me to Leicester and I haven't been able to go over home yet, so..." 

De Decker eventually won that first round 6-4 and was also too strong for Martin Lukeman 6-5 a round later. Finally, as mentioned, he went down 6-3 in the third round against Daryl Gurney. "I'm going to suit up for tomorrow," 'The Real Deal' said afterwards. "I'm exhausted. And I also have that Euro Tour in Prague next weekend, so some rest is going to do me good."

As he touched upon there, next weekend the Czech Darts Open, the final tournament of the European Tour 2024, will take place in Prague. The top 32 of the European Tour will eventually qualify for the European Championship, which will take place in Dortmund from Oct. 24 to 27. De Decker is in a good position to qualify for this major, but does well to win at least one match in Prague.