“Because at this level he’s going to lose his tour card” – Vincent van der Voort offers harrowing insight after Kim Huybrechts defeat at PDC World Darts Championship

The opening day of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace offered a lot of drama. Former world champions Luke Littler and Michael Smith got their campaigns underway with a win, but it was not so good for debutant Jamai van den Herik fell at the first hurdle against Madars Razma, while Kim Huybrechts suffered a painful defeat to German newcomer Arno Merk. In the podcast Darts Draait Door, former pro Vincent van der Voort didn’t mince his words in his analysis of both matches.

For Jamai van den Herik, a World Championship debut in London was supposed to be a dream night. Instead, it became a harsh introduction to the sport’s biggest stage. The 22-year-old Dutchman lost 3-1 in sets to Razma and looked tense throughout.

Host Damian Vlottes described the match as tough viewing. “Interesting because a Dutchman was involved, but it was the most difficult match of the evening,” he told Van der Voort. He felt it was clear that Van den Herik wasn’t himself. “you could see in everything that he wasn’t himself in that match..”

Van der Voort saw the same pattern: a player skirting the edge of the treble instead of hitting it clean. “He fought for what he was worth. He stayed in the match for a long time. Could have almost made it two sets. But if you look at how many darts he threw under the treble 20, and then under the treble 19—you could see the tension.”

That tension showed not only in scoring, but also in his stage presence. “You can really tell he’s still a rookie up there,” said Van der Voort. “And there’s a lot that needs polishing.”

On Viaplay he had already noted that Van den Herik “didn’t exactly radiate personality.” In the podcast he clarified what he meant. “He’ll have to develop that. You need to stand there a bit like a big man.”

A striking detail afterwards was Van den Herik picking up his opponent’s darts from the floor. Sympathetic, but according to Van der Voort not fitting for a World Championship match setting.

He stressed he wasn’t branding the Dutchman as soft. “A very nice lad. You can see that in everything. He’s not a jerk. But those are things you can learn, it’s all still new to him.”

However, the way Van den Herik spoke afterwards earned praise. No excuses, no sugar-coating. “He wasn’t satisfied himself. It’s not like he was standing there saying: 'well, at least I was there,'” said Van der Voort. “They weren’t those empty, meaningless answers.”

That doesn’t make the result any less bitter, he added. Van den Herik had chances to level the match at 2-2 in sets. “That’s quite a shame,” Van der Voort concluded. At the same time, he called it a tough but useful lesson. The message for the Dutchman is clear. “Now he has to develop over the coming year and make sure he’s back next year.”

While Van den Herik is at the start of his top-level career, the opposite is true for Kim Huybrechts. The Belgian has been a tour mainstay for years, but seems further than ever from his peak. Against debutant Arno Merk he went down 3-1 after a match in which confidence was again in short supply.

“He was really disappointing,” admitted Van der Voort. “The first leg and a half I thought: this looks good for him. But scoring-wise it was very mediocre from Kim. We all know he can do much better. It was one long struggle.”

For Van der Voort, Huybrechts’ decline is not a one-off, but a pattern. "Someone who had a bad year and is doubting everything. At a World Championship you want to do well so badly, and that pressure rises."

It didn’t happen. With an average just over 85 and a lack of conviction, Belgium’s former number one put more pressure on himself in the world rankings. Sitting 55th on the Order of Merit means the margin to losing his tour card (from 65th down) is getting thin—especially with players below him still to play.

Van der Voort doesn’t expect Huybrechts to drop out of the top 64 this year, but he issued a clear warning. “He’ll remain in the top 64 this year, but barely. Next year he needs to do a lot or he’ll drop out.”

For someone with his résumé and reputation, the current situation simply doesn’t fit, according to Van der Voort. “This isn’t the position where Kim Huybrechts belongs. He’s way too good. Played Premier League twice. He’s a really good darter," he said. "If you’re at this ranking, something is wrong. Something must change."

Changing that isn’t easy within a packed darts schedule where exhibition matches also play a role. Van der Voort has heard that Huybrechts plays many exhibitions, which offers financial security but may hinder him competitively. “Sure, but that’s guaranteed income. Hard to turn down,” he noted. “He’s in a tough spot.”

Even so, that’s no reason to do nothing, he insisted. On the contrary, Huybrechts would benefit from deliberately stepping away from the board. “It would do him good not to touch a dart for two weeks and reset completely,” said Van der Voort, looking ahead to the Christmas period.

The conclusion is harsh but clear. “It is painful, of course. We all know how good he is and then to show this... You know something really has to change, because at this level he’s going to lose his tour card. He needs to play with aggression and passion.”