Kim Huybrechts got off to an excellent start at the 2024 Players Championship Finals. ‘The Hurricane’ defeated an out of sorts Wessel Nijman 6-1 in his opening match and is now set to take on Scott Williams in round 2.
Nijman has been much touted of late, especially after his excellent Grand Slam of Darts performances. As such, Huybrechts was wary of his match against the Dutch prodigy. “I’m predicting he’s going to be in the top 16 in the next two years. 100% he’s got the talent,” Huybrechts says of his opponent in a post-match interview. “I’m just happy I managed to get the win.”
The 38-year-old Belgian had to wait a long time for certainty regarding qualification for the World Darts Championship this year, but after a final place at the Czech Darts Open, he seems to be returning to form. “I can play darts. I think I’ve proven that over the 13 to 14 years I’ve been in the PDC,” Huybrechts says with a smile. “I always seem to perform better at the end of the season.”
Past majors have seen some surprising names take the title, such as Ritchie Edhouse at the European Championship and Huybrechts’ Belgian compatriot Mike De Decker at the World Grand Prix. De Decker’s victory in particular is notable for Huybrechts as after Dimitri Van den Bergh‘s success at the UK Open earlier this year, it marked the second Belgian major winner in 2024. As such, Huybrechts, who was once the leading figure in Belgian darts, has now been relegated to something of a background character.
“It gives me work to do. I want to be a major winner of course, but that them two achieved it, is amazing,” Huybrechts assesses. “I’m proud of them, really proud. But I want to be there aswell and I’m going to work for that end.”
The success of De Decker has also seen Huybrechts’ World Cup of Darts chances slide away. “I’ve had peace that Mike took over my spot. He’s playing amazing,” Huybrechts concludes, noting the much discussed tension between himself and Van den Bergh. “I had my beautiful moments, especially with Ronny (his brother ed.). The last couple of years it’s been less attractive for me, the World Cup, because of personal issues.”