Darts of Mike De Decker: How Online Hate Changed the Player.

Mike De Decker on Fan Abuse

According to The Sun: Mike De Decker admitted that after Belgium's early exit from the Darts World Championship, he received harsh online abuse from fans.

“The real deal” successfully began his title defense at the World Grand Prix, winning 2-1 against Peter Wright in Leicester. He gradually overcame nervousness and continued the fight to repeat the title.

However, De Decker acknowledges that criticism on social media from his home country has made life as a darts player more difficult than ever.

“The hate I received after that made me realize that I am not playing for my country — I am playing for myself.”

“It came from Belgian fans, even from people I see every week.”

“When you win, they smile — when you lose, they bury you. It changed me.”

“A few months ago, I shared screenshots of messages I received after losing in the first round on ProTour.”

“People wished me death or hoped I would get some terrible disease.”

“It’s absurd. And it’s not only me — every player goes through this.”

“So now I only play for myself. I’m no longer interested in being number one in Belgium.”

“I learned to deal with expectations. Today I felt pressure, but I managed to concentrate and focus. It’s growth.”

Upcoming Challenges

The 29-year-old player is still searching for his first ProTour title of the season and has not reached the quarterfinals in any of the four ranking tournaments.

De Decker admits that the burden of being the defending champion has heavily impacted him before his match against “The Snake”. He also shared:

“It was a worrying start. I felt the pressure of defending my title — it’s new for me.”

“I was really nervous. I came here five hours early to relax, but when they said I had two minutes until I went out, the nerves caught up with me again.”

De Decker returns to competition on Thursday to face Luke Littler in an important Round of 16 match at the Mattyoli arena.

He added: “I saw his match.”

“I just hope he doesn’t play like that against me. Because when he’s at that level, it’s hard to beat him.”

“I won’t sit here and say 'well done' — I just hope he saves it for someone else.”

Currently, Mike De Decker continues to compete under significant pressure and expectations. He reflects on the importance of mental health in sports, emphasizing that players often face criticism that can negatively impact their game. This challenge — finding a balance between all external expectations and personal aspirations — becomes particularly relevant for athletes at such a high level.