"I felt before the final that the tank was empty" - Kim Huybrechts looks back on sensational weekend at Czech Darts Open

Kim Huybrechts caused something of a surprise at the 2024 Czech Darts Open last weekend. The 38-year-old Belgian was originally not even qualified for this final tournament of the European Tour 2024, but was allowed to participate due to Rob Cross' illness and, to everyone's surprise, eventually reached the final.

Even for Huybrechts himself, the run to the final came as a bit of a surprise. "Although I did notice that the draw was much heavier at the bottom than at the top. When I had to play Jermaine Wattimena in the quarterfinals I did see chances. On the other side of the draw you still had big names like Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Mike De Decker, which is still a different calibre," Huybrechts reflected via the podcast 'Double Top'.

"But even after my win in the semifinals against Niels Zonneveld, I didn't start dreaming of final victory," continuesnthe Belgian number three. "I felt pretty quickly that the tank was pretty much empty, I was really in the red. Moreover, in the final I had to play Luke Humphries, the man of the season and someone who almost always throws above 100 average. I just felt I didn't have that level anymore. Of course I still gave everything and you always hope for a lesser performance from Humphries, but unfortunately it didn't come."

Huybrechts also had to face one of his best friends in the semifinals. "That's something a lot of people underestimate, we don't have to walk ten kilometres during a match, but emotion also exhausts. Besides, it had also been a long time since I had to play so many matches on the Sunday of a Euro Tour," Huybrechts concludes. "It was especially an emotional rollercoaster because Niels was sure of qualifying for the European Championship if he won against me."