Belgian darts star Kim Huybrechts was on the end of a brutal lecture from his wife, who accused him of spending more time on Football Manager than the practice board
Kim Huybrechts is one of the most talented darts players to emerge from mainland Europe.
But there’s a feeling the Hurricane could have achieved so much more in the game – just ask his wife! Huybrechts begins his latest World Championship campaign on the opening night with a first round tie against Keane Barry.
The winner will face 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price in round two. Not so long along, Huybrechts would have been high enough up the rankings to earn a bye himself.
However, the former Premier League competitor has tumbled down the PDC’s Order of Merit in recent times and lost his long-held tag of Belgian number one. That now belongs to Dimitri Van den Bergh with recent World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker not far behind.
The demise of Huybrechts, who is still only 39, was summed up by his display at last year’s World Championship, when he was dumped out in the second round by Richard Veenstra in straights after failing to win a single leg. While the result was a surprise to many, his wife saw it coming.
Dana Verhaegen-Huybrechts savagel told Nieuwsblad Sport that her husband would get more out of the sport if he knuckled down instead of playing Football Manager. “Kim is actually a spoiled brat,” she declared.
“He’s addicted to Football Manager while I do everything around the house. Kim has so much talent, but no character. Lazy is an understatement.”
She added that Huybrechts certainly wasn’t lacking in ability, saying: “It’s inhuman how he stands here sometimes throwing. One 180 after another. I believe he can win against anyone if he is on form. Even Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen.
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Following such a wretched defeat, Huybrechts vowed to improve in 2024, declaring: “From 2024 it’s just Kim Huybrechts and nobody else. I’m not going to look at other players in the world anymore.
“Number one, two or three in the world, it doesn’t interest me anymore. Also, the other Belgians. I tried to take them pretty far, but I don’t care about all that now either.”
A year on though, Huybrechts’ fortunes have barely improved and he heads to Ally Pally 41st in the world rankings.