“That's a hard blow for Belgium” – Alarm bells ring after the freefall of Dimitri van den Bergh and Mike De Decker showcased in the rankings

Belgian darts has celebrated several major successes in recent years, but the latest world rankings suddenly paint a far less positive picture. Dimitri Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker, in particular, have lost significant ground since the World Grand Prix. Vincent van der Voort expressed his concerns about the Belgian pair in the latest episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast.

Van den Bergh has suffered the biggest decline. The former World Matchplay champion has dropped from 46th to 59th in the PDC Order of Merit. That is a painful development for a player who was still considered part of the absolute world elite just a few years ago.

“World number 59,” Van der Voort said in disbelief. “Two years ago, there were two Belgians in the semi-finals, against each other. And now there isn't a single one left. That's a hard blow for Belgium.” Mike De Decker has also paid a heavy price. The Belgian, who won the World Grand Prix two years ago, has fallen from 24th to 33rd. He, too, is now outside the top 32.

The situation is striking because Belgium was represented almost continuously near the top of the world rankings for years. Kim Huybrechts broke into the top 32 in 2012, after which Van den Bergh eventually took over as Belgium’s leading player. De Decker then also established himself prominently at the forefront.

“It looks like, for the first time in 14 years — since 2012, when Kim Huybrechts entered the top 32 — there are no Belgians in the world's top 32,” Van der Voort concluded.

That is precisely what makes the current situation so remarkable. Van den Bergh won the World Matchplay and De Decker claimed the World Grand Prix. A few years ago, Belgium therefore appeared to be entering a period in which darts could continue to grow across the board. “Then you expect more and more to come through and for the depth to get better. I think two years ago we thought these two were going to do it for Belgium, and now we've lost both of them from that level."

That development has yet to materialise. Behind the established names, there is no large group immediately ready to take over. There are promising signs among the younger players, and Van der Voort says significant investment is being made in development. “At the JDC Under-18 level, they do have a pretty good generation. They also put a lot of effort into it, so you have to hope that some of those players come through.”

According to Van der Voort, this matters for more than sporting reasons. Interest in darts in Belgium could also come under pressure if there are no compatriots on the biggest stages. The comparison with the Netherlands is relevant, as viewing figures also visibly decline there once the last Dutch player is eliminated from a tournament.

"It's important that a home player does well. If there's no Belgian playing, it's less interesting to watch. So it's important that a few of them start playing well again.”

For De Decker, the decline is particularly painful. After winning his major title, he had plenty of opportunities to strengthen his ranking position further. According to the Dutchman, he should have made better use of those chances.

“If you've won a tournament like that, after two years you should be in the top 16 in the world. Especially with all the Euro Tours he was able to play, all the opportunities and all the money those events brought him.” De Decker came close to the top 16, but failed to take the next step permanently. “He's also left a lot on the table, of course. But he knows that himself. He says that himself..”

The consequence is that the former World Grand Prix champion must start building again. “Now he can start again from the ground up. He's certainly going to have to do that.”

There have also been notable shifts among players from other countries. Raymond van Barneveld is now 44th, while several other experienced names, including Michael Smith and Peter Wright, continue to slide down the rankings. “We're saying goodbye to quite a large group of really good players,” Van der Voort observed.

Several Dutch players, on the other hand, have gained ground. Niels Zonneveld climbed from 35th to 29th, creating some breathing room in the battle for a top-32 position. Jermaine Wattimena took 16th place from Chris Dobey, while Danny Noppert is even ranked seventh.

Noppert’s position stands out in particular. “I think if you asked someone now where Noppert is in the rankings, nobody would get it right. Everyone would think he's 11th or 12th. And he hasn't had a great year either. So it is quite impressive."

For Belgium, the conclusion is considerably less positive for now. After years in which Huybrechts, Van den Bergh and later De Decker provided success and continuity, that can no longer be taken for granted. The hope now rests on a revival from the established names and on a new generation capable of closing the gap.