"Playing for your country is extra special" - Jules van Dongen understands Kim Huybrechts wanting to keep place despite injury

From June 27 to 30, the World Cup of Darts will take place in Frankfurt. Whether or not the current Belgian number two, Kim Huybrechts will represent his nation, remains to be seen however.

Mathematically speaking, Huybrechts is currently well placed to join Dimitri Van den Bergh once again as the Belgian representatives. However, as the 38-year-old Belgian currently has other concerns after suffering a double collarbone fracture in a brawl after the Union-Antwerp football match (Belgium Cup final), it will be a race against time for Huybrechts, who must also hope Mike De Decker does not overtake him in the world rankings in the coming weeks, to make it to the World Cup of Darts.

"I'm not a doctor so I don't know if it's possible to get fit by that tournament. But it does seem hard when you can't do anything for a while," analyses Jules van Dongen, who will represent the United States national team in conversation with the podcast 'Double Top'. "I do find it interesting to follow how everything is going to go. I assume Kim absolutely wants to play for his country. But suppose you only get 70 average, what do you do? I personally find it hard to say what I would do then. Besides, there is already tension between him and Dimitri, so it will be a difficult decision that he will have to make himself.

"In addition, you have Mike De Decker who is only just behind Kim in the world rankings, he will certainly be keeping an eye on everything," van Dongen continues. "In the form Mike is currently in, he has a good chance of being selected for the World Cup of Darts next year anyway, which might make Kim even more keen to compete this year."

"The World Cup of Darts is also a special tournament, you play for your country and that does mean something," the US representative concludes. "Maybe Kim also realizes that in the coming years it will be difficult to qualify for it and therefore he will want to make an extra effort this year to be sure to play."