“We’ll never be best friends again, and that’s fine” – Mike De Decker and Kim Huybrechts have buried the hatchet
PDCFriday, 28 August 2026 at 08:42
Belgian darters Mike De Decker and Kim Huybrechts have drawn a line under their much-discussed feud after more than two years. The compatriots have put the conflict behind them and are back on normal terms.
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The row between the two Belgian contenders came to light in early 2024, when footage emerged of a heated confrontation between De Decker and Huybrechts. The video showed the pair exchanging verbal blows outside a PDC tournament. Huybrechts even had to be restrained to prevent the situation from escalating further. The incident sparked a major fallout within Belgian darts.
The dispute caused considerable commotion and also affected cooperation between the Belgian players. That was most evident around the World Cup of Darts, where Belgium has long relied on the performances of De Decker, Huybrechts, and Dimitri Van den Bergh. Only two players can represent Belgium at the team event, which naturally heightens internal competition.
The air has now cleared between the two Belgians. De Decker reveals on the podcast Darts Draait Door that he and Huybrechts have buried the hatchet. “A lot has happened, sure, but at some point you have to stop with that childish stuff,” says De Decker. “We’ll never be best friends again, and that’s fine.”
According to De Decker, they now have a normal working relationship. “We just act normal with each other, say hello and good day.” That seems to close a chapter that fuelled tensions for a long time. The fact that Huybrechts had already apologised to De Decker also played a part. In 2024, Huybrechts admitted his reaction during the row was wrong and that he regretted it.
Different characters
The reconciliation doesn’t mean they’ve suddenly become like-minded personalities. Far from it. De Decker sees a clear contrast between himself and Huybrechts. “Kim is always fiercely competitive, and I’m a lot calmer,” he states.
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That doesn’t mean De Decker is emotionless. “But if at some point I feel it has to come out, it will come out.” The former World Grand Prix winner takes a different approach to the sport than Huybrechts, but stresses both ultimately share the same goal: earning a living through darts.
That principle is why the World Cup doesn’t carry the same emotional weight for De Decker as it does for some others. “The only reason we’re on that stage is to earn our bread. So whether that’s with Kim or Dimitri doesn’t matter to me. I’m not doing it for my country.”
That remark caused a serious stir in Belgium last year. De Decker faced a torrent of criticism on social media and was even called a traitor by some. “Oh man, all those people…,” he recalls with a laugh. “The messages I got then. Traitor and all that, oh man.”
The Belgian now wants to add nuance. He says his comment absolutely did not mean he feels no pride when representing Belgium. “So no: I play to earn my bread, and that has nothing to do with the World Cup or with not being proud to play for my country.”
Mike De Decker formed a duo with Mike De Decker at the World Cup of Darts
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“So slammed and torn down”
Still, the World Cup’s special feeling has changed for De Decker. Past experiences mean the enthusiasm is no longer what it was during his first appearances.
One early exit stands out in particular. “We were so slammed and torn down. You can’t expect me to think a year later: ‘Yay.’” De Decker seems keen to distance himself from the intense pressure that can build around Belgium’s national team.
Meanwhile, relations with Huybrechts appear far calmer. The two don’t need to be best friends to team up at a World Cup again. If their ranking and results see them represent Belgium together in future, De Decker says he has no issue with that.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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