Poor Mike De Decker Just Told Luke Littler to Quit Darts at 18

By Lewis Barnett 9 August, 2025 5 mins read 269 Views

God, can you imagine being so good at something that your opponents literally beg you to retire?

That's exactly what happened to Luke Littler after he absolutely demolished Mike De Decker 8-4 in the Australian Darts Masters final in Wollongong this past Saturday. The Belgian, probably still processing what just hit him, grabbed the mic and basically said "he needs to retire because it's not fun anymore." I mean, brutal honesty right there. Littler just grinned and shot back "Nope, not yet!" – which honestly made me laugh out loud when I watched it.

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The Kid's Got Attitude Now

Here's where it gets interesting though. Some Aussie fans were giving Littler grief throughout the tournament, and instead of getting rattled, the 18-year-old developed this whole new swagger. Like, a proper headshake-before-throwing routine that screams confidence.

"From the first game there was a group to my right and then in the final every time I didn't hit a treble, they were like 'rubbish, rubbish,'" Littler explained afterward. "Someone said I was 'washed'. Not sure what he meant. Obviously I'd just won."

Listen. When you're 18 and someone calls you "washed," that's either the most premature career assessment in sports history or just peak Australian banter.

Six 180s in Six Legs? Come On.

The final wasn't even close, which probably made De Decker's retirement joke sting a bit more. Littler opened with six maximum scores in the first six legs – that's the kind of stat that makes you question reality. He was up 4-2 after nailing a 143 finish that looked effortless, then sealed it with a bull checkout to go 7-4 up before finishing on double 16.

Twenty grand in prize money for a night's work. Not bad for someone who should apparently be retiring.

World Champions Don't Take Breaks

What struck me about Littler's post-match interview was how he framed winning as an obligation. "As a World Champion you need to be winning things," he said. "It took five months but to go and win at the Matchplay and now I've won here as well. I've got that winning feeling back in me."

Five months felt like forever to him. I can barely remember what I had for lunch yesterday, and this kid's tracking his victory drought in months like it's some career crisis.

The whole thing reminded me of those stories about Tiger Woods in his prime – where other players would basically show up knowing they were playing for second place. De Decker seemed genuinely happy just reaching the final, saying "People said I didn't deserve it so I'm really happy I got a trophy now." (He picked up £10,000 for runner-up, which isn't exactly pocket change.)

When Losing Motivates You More Than Winning

Maybe the most telling comment came when Littler mentioned last year's final loss: "Any losing final motivates me. You always want to come back and do one better." That's the mindset that separates good players from great ones – treating defeats like personal insults that need addressing.

Poor Luke Humphries, meanwhile, got absolutely steamrolled 6-0 by De Decker in the quarters while feeling unwell. Sometimes the timing just isn't there.

But back to the retirement joke – I genuinely think De Decker meant it as a compliment wrapped in frustration. When you're facing someone who makes the game look that easy, what else can you do except laugh and suggest they find a new hobby?

Spoiler alert: he's not retiring anytime soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

What are "flights" and "stems" and do they really matter?

Flights and stems (also called shafts) are the components that stabilize your dart during flight, and yes, they absolutely matter—though perhaps not in the way beginners often think.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

How do I improve my dart throwing technique?

Improving your dart technique comes down to consistency and deliberate practice. First, establish a comfortable stance—feet shoulder-width apart, with your dominant foot slightly forward. Your weight should be balanced and stable, not leaning forward or back.

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

I keep hitting 5s and 1s when aiming for 20s. How do I fix this?

This is probably the most common frustration in darts—those dreaded 5s and 1s when you're aiming for the 20 segment! The good news is that this specific problem usually stems from a few identifiable issues.

Statistics

A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
The highest possible score with three darts is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s.
The Women's World Darts Championship was established in 2001, with Trina Gulliver winning 10 titles.
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.

External Links

How To

Aiming Systems & Practice Routines

When I first started, I would just aim at whatever number I needed. But after watching some YouTube tutorials in 2018, I learned about the "clock" system. Imagine the board as a clock face. If you're aiming for the 20, but hit the 5, you're throwing too far to the right (clockwise). Adjust accordingly.