“The Belgians don't seem to like each other very much” – Notable incident between Kim Huybrechts and Andy Baetens after the Zwaantje Masters final

Kim Huybrechts claimed the Zwaantje Masters 2026 title last weekend. The Belgian succeeds Wessel Nijman as champion of the event. In the final Huybrechts saw off compatriot Andy Baetens, although the mood between the two Belgians did not seem particularly warm afterwards. That clip also raised a few eyebrows with Damian Vlottes and Vincent van der Voort on the podcast Darts Draait Door.

Van der Voort had seen footage of the moment Huybrechts and Baetens shook hands after the final. “Andy Baetens shakes Kim's hand, and then immediately walks off looking angry,” noted the former professional. “I don't know what that was all about.”

Vlottes also could not immediately explain where the apparent irritation came from. “The Belgians don't seem to like each other very much, I think,” Van der Voort added with a laugh. He had nothing negative to say about Baetens himself. “As far as I know Andy Baetens is generally a decent lad.” Vlottes agreed: “Yeah, I think so too. But that video looked good.”

The discussion about the Zwaantje Masters led Van der Voort back to his own appearance at the tournament. The Dutchman has stood at the oche there in the past and reached the quarter-finals at the time.

“I've been to the Zwaantje Masters. And I got paid,” said Van der Voort. “Then I lost to Jermaine Wattimena in the quarter-finals. And then the following year they said, 'You can play again, because you reached the quarter-finals.' I said, 'Then you have to pay me the same again.'"

The organisers, however, were not open to that. “They said, 'We're not doing that.' 'Then I'm not coming.'" said Van der Voort. He could no longer recall the exact fee. “I don't know. But that doesn't matter.”

For Van der Voort, the main reason not to return lightly was the length of a tournament day. “It was such a long day. I'm not going to do that for nothing. If they pay me enough, I'll come."

Vlottes saw another option: “Then I'll come along and watch.” Van der Voort does not expect another invitation any time soon. “I don't think they're going to do that. So you don't need to block it out in your diary."