"It was getting too much": Mike de Decker clear of mind after personal issues that saw 2025 downturn

Mike De Decker is hopeful of rediscovering his best form in 2026 after admitting the past year forced him to rethink every aspect of his game – both on and off the oche.

The Belgian has steadily been winning albeit not yet qualified for the World Matchplay. But speaking in Poland recently, it continued a theme of steady progress as he looks to rebuild confidence on the big stage. “I want to win,” De Decker said to Tungsten Tales. “I remember last year, the first European Tour, I had a really poor third game and then I reached the final. So hopefully this year it’s the same.”

A key factor behind his renewed optimism is a change of equipment, with De Decker finally settling on a set of darts he feels completely comfortable with. “I’ve finally found a good set of darts that fits me. What I’m doing in practice is going really well. I played the Pro Tour last week and that was decent as well. I just need to get some confidence on stage, and hopefully I’ll be back to being the Mike from 2024.”

De Decker is open about the fact that 2025 was a turning point. Despite maintaining a solid ranking, he realised that simply relying on his natural ability would not be enough to compete consistently at the top level. “Last year opened my eyes that I had to do more,” he explained. “Not just practice, but mentally I had to do more. Physically I had to do more – the whole package. That’s what I’ve been doing, so hopefully it shows soon.”

While he kept details private, the 29-year-old confirmed he has made significant changes behind the scenes to clear his mind and refocus.

“I had a lot on my mind last year – darts, private life, everything – and it was getting too much. I’m trying to sort that out now, and at the moment it’s working.”

There were glimpses of De Decker’s potential earlier in the season at the Masters, where he pushed Luke Littler all the way before falling short. “Well, I’m never going to put myself on double 11 again!” he joked.

Despite the missed opportunity, he took positives from the performance. “If you get match darts against the world number one, who’s been dominating the sport for the last year, you can take positives from that.”

If the Masters offered encouragement, the World Championship once again proved a source of frustration for De Decker, who admitted he has struggled to produce his best on that stage. “My record at the Worlds isn’t very good – I’ve lost in the first round six times now,” he said.

His way of coping was simple: complete disconnection. “I just block it out entirely. I don’t watch any of it. I didn’t pick up a dart for three weeks until it was finished. I just couldn’t. That’s basically how I cope with losing there – especially the way I did.”

With ranking pressure increasing and significant prize money to defend, De Decker is under no illusions about the importance of strong performances on the European Tour circuit this year. “They’re really important,” he said. “I qualified for the first four European Tour events based on my ranking, and for five and six I was just outside. These are key to getting into the majors like the Matchplay, the Grand Prix and the others.”

Although he remains cautious publicly, there are clear signs that belief is returning. Strong practice form, improved preparation, and a settled setup are all contributing to a more complete player.

For De Decker, the goal is simple: consistency, confidence, and a return to the level that made him one of the standout performers of 2024.

And while he is reluctant to make bold predictions, the message is clear – the work is being done, and the results may not be far behind.