DE DECKER BATTERS BULLY BOY! 🇧🇪 It's a huge win on home soil for Mike De Decker, who defeats former World Champion Michael Smith 6-2 to advance through to Finals Day! 📺 bit.ly/PDCTVLive 🔜 Gerwyn Price v Gabriel Clemens #ET1 | R2
"It's true that he wasn't at his best, but that's not my problem" - Mike De Decker delights Belgian crowd with dominant win over Michael Smith
PDCSunday, 10 March 2024 at 10:00
Mike De Decker provided a surprise in the second round of the Belgian Darts Open to the jubilation of the home crowd in Wieze. 'The Real Deal' defeated former world champion Michael Smith 6-2.
De Decker was impressed by the crowd at the Oktoberhallen in Wieze. "This is not normal," he opens to Het Nieuwsblad. "3,000 - 4,000 men chanting your name, that's insane. I'm very happy to be through to the next round. This is what you do it for. Because it's your job, but also because you know the whole of Belgium is behind you. Then when they shout your name and you do the right things at the right time, that's really brilliant."
Smith remained below his normal level with only 87.55. "It's true that he wasn't at his best, but ... It may have been put crudely: that's not my problem. He's ex-world champion, basically he should defend his status but he didn't. I just threw the right things at the right moments and then you get 6-2 for Mike instead of Michael. I also just felt really good. Friday I got nervous when they called my name, I didn't have that today at all. I was like, come on, you're the better one and it turned out that way."
De Decker entered the stage to the tones of "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & The Wailers. "It hit thick this time," he says. "I could have stood there another half hour, I think. I'm glad it worked this time. It's always easier in front of your own audience, but the whole venue was along for the ride. That's nice. Tomorrow? For me, none of it matters who I face (Stephen Bunting, ed.). I'm on a cloud, playing in my own country and the audience is behind me."
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