Kim Huijbrechts after stunt against world champion at World Cup darts: ‘Wright was not Wright today’ | Darts

‘The Hurricane’, however, remained modest. “Wright wasn’t Wright tonight. He didn’t play like a world champion. He threw an average of somewhere in the eighties. I didn’t get much more, but I did what I had to do to win.”

Huijbrechts noticed beforehand that his opponent was not doing well. ,,Peter is normally withdrawn before a match, but this time he was very open. He told me he was nervous. Then I thought: ‘Maybe this will be my day.’”

During the match, Huijbrechts saw that Wright changed flights a few times and even arrows. ,,I thought to myself: don’t worry, play my own game. It worked.” He is very comfortable in his own skin. ,,For the first time in three years, my program at the World Cup was such that I was home for Christmas. That did me particularly good, to see my kids unpack their packages!”

And he also found the fun in darts. ,,I was a bit higher in the world ranking, but then it was less. I hope that with my current positivism I can find my way back up. Because I feel that I am a top-16 player, but the biggest opponent is myself. Due to personal issues in my life, I lost four to five years of my career.” Huijbrechts refers in particular to the death of both his parents. ,,In that period I couldn’t focus 100 percent on darts. And that is necessary to be able to really perform. The level is so high these days.”

It does Huijbrechts good to see that darts is becoming increasingly popular in his home country. “Television has a lot to do with that. When I played in the Premier League, I could go to a restaurant without being recognised. But now that’s different. Darts is now one of the five most popular sports in Belgium. I am called upon about everything. That’s great, but it’s sometimes difficult when I’m on the road with my family. Then people come and have a chat. And I will never say no – that’s not in me – but at such moments I actually need ‘us-time’.”

In the coming days, Huijbrechts will prepare for the clash against compatriot Dimitri van den Bergh in the fourth round. “We will text each other a bit, but then the switch will turn. We have respect for each other and it is actually a pity that we are already facing each other, but this is also just a game that must be won.”