Mike de Decker in tears after World Championship exit: ''Like I can't play darts anymore''

Mike de Decker could not hold his own against Madars Razma on Thursday afternoon. He went down 3-1 in sets against the Latvian in the second round of the World Darts Championship.

And that defeat came hard. With a tearful face, De Decker walked off the stage, according to Het Nieuwsblad, before speaking to the Belgian media. ''Very painful, you can say that,'' was the Belgian's first reaction.

"In the first set Razma was just better, I didn't miss any chances there. I took the second set, but the third set... I should have taken it. And then you end up losing 3-1 and that's sour. I know what I can do and sometimes it shows, but then it's like I can't play darts anymore. That's really terrible..."

Especially on the doubles, De Decker did not play well at all. 'The Real Deal' could only put seven of his 27 darts in the right box. The three missed set darts in the fifth leg of set three proved disastrous. ''Then you can't win hey,'' De Decker spoke realistically. ''This is really sour. I should never lose this match to him, ever. I was the better one, but doubles are part of it."

It ultimately proved a disappointing end to a good season, in which De Decker got to debut at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. Still, it took the Belgian darter to think back on it positively. Tomorrow or the day after, maybe. I'm a competitive person, so I want to win. I know I had a good year, but basically the World Championship should be the icing on the cake and then if you lose in the second round ... Then you haven't had a nice World Championship. It also needs to come out on stage. It already did at the floor tournaments, but it needs to start going during the big tournaments'', De Decker concluded.