Luke Littler has seemed to withdraw from the
Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp this coming weekend. This fter his Czech Darts Open title, allowing
Kim Huybrechts, as third reserve, to play in front of his home crowd at Antwerp Expo.
Huybrechts narrowly missed out at the end of July via the Tour Card Holder Qualifier after losing 6-1 to Bradley Brooks in the final round. That defeat left him third on the reserve list, meaning a withdrawal from seeded players could still have brought him into the field.
On Tuesday, “The Hurricane” received the call to confirm he will indeed line up in Antwerp. That also means that, besides Luke Littler, two more seeded players have pulled out. Their names are not yet known at the time of writing.
World Grand Prix and European Championship still within reach for Huybrechts
Beyond the chance to perform in front of his own fans this weekend, it is also a prime late opportunity to secure a
World Grand Prix ticket. The Belgian currently sits 18th on £79,500, with only the top 16 assured of a place at the major.
This weekend is the final chance to add prize money for the Grand Prix race, handing the Belgian a golden opportunity to qualify. The gap to Cristo Reyes, currently 16th, is only £2,500. One or two wins could therefore be enough to book his spot at the prestigious Leicester event.
Alongside the
World Grand Prix, Huybrechts is also firmly in the hunt for the
European Championship. With three European Tour events remaining this year, the Belgian sits 30th, just on the right side of the cut. His cushion over 33rd-placed Stephen Bunting is only £4,500.
With his unexpected Antwerp call-up, “The Hurricane” can now add some extra prize money and give himself more breathing room for the European Championship race. Given his excellent form in recent months, it would be no surprise if he secures places at both the World Grand Prix and the European Championship this weekend.