Mike De Decker will celebrate a milestone moment in his career on Friday, as he prepares to make his World Series of Darts debut in Wollongong.
De Decker will feature as one of the eight PDC superstars in the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters this weekend, before competing in the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland a week later.
This year’s Oceanic double-header represents a first taste of World Series action for the Belgian number one, who is aiming to impress on his debut Down Under.
“This is a whole new experience for me, so I’m really looking forward to it,” insisted De Decker, the reigning World Grand Prix champion.
“This is definitely a big moment for me. I didn’t expect a call-up, but it’s nice to get recognition for my achievements last year.
“It is always good to have practice, but playing the best players in the world on the big stage is where it counts.”
De Decker will take on Australian qualifier Brandon Weening in a battle of the World Series debutants on Friday, with Luke Humphries potentially awaiting the winner in the quarter-finals.
Humphries and De Decker famously went head-to-head in October’s World Grand Prix showpiece, with the Belgian coming of age to clinch the double-start title in a thrilling finale.
De Decker also defeated the world number one on his way to reaching the Belgian Darts Open final in March, and he’s hoping to rediscover that form over the coming weeks.
“My game is a bit inconsistent at the moment, but I think I’ve found out why,” revealed the 29-year-old, who reached the second round of last month’s World Matchplay.
“I have made a slight change to my darts and it feels more comfortable now.
“I have felt more comfortable in the last week than I have in the last six months with my previous ones, so hopefully I can get back to the form I was in last year.
“The big majors are coming up, and that’s why I made the change in my darts - to get that consistency back.
“If I can have a good run here and in New Zealand, that will definitely give me a boost of confidence, so we will see what happens!”
The KenoGO Australian Darts Masters will be broadcast live on Fox Sports in Australia, through DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and on PDCTV in all other global territories.
UK fans can also watch live on PDCTV and ITVX, with delayed coverage on ITV4 beginning from 1900 BST on Friday, and 1700 BST on Saturday.
2025 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters
Friday August 8 (1900 AEST)
Round One
Mike De Decker v Brandon Weening
Gerwyn Price v Joe Comito
Stephen Bunting v Brody Klinge
Luke Humphries v Jonny Tata
Damon Heta v James Bailey
Luke Littler v Haupai Puha
Josh Rock v Simon Whitlock
Chris Dobey v Tim Pusey
Best of 11 legs