"To see Peter Wright struggle like this… it’s devastating" - Kim Huybrechts admits mixed emotions after Munich win

Kim Huybrechts moved into the second round of the 2026 German Darts Grand Prix with a 6-3 win over Peter Wright, but his post-match reaction in Munich reflected far more than just the result.

The Belgian came through a match that never fully settled into rhythm, taking his chances at key moments, but the context of facing a struggling Wright shaped the tone of his assessment.

Huybrechts was quick to downplay his own level and instead focused on the emotional difficulty of the contest.

"Yeah, it wasn’t that good, to be honest. But I have so much respect for Peter. To see him struggle like this, it hurts a lot because I’ve been in that position myself. I haven’t had the same career as him, he’s absolutely one of the legends. But to see him struggle like this… for a darts player’s heart, that’s devastating."

The Belgian made clear that the match carried a weight beyond the scoreboard, with empathy playing a role throughout. "It was a very hard game emotionally."

Despite the victory, Huybrechts admitted there was frustration with his own performance, particularly given the work he has been doing behind the scenes with Erik Clarys. "Yeah, he’s probably going to be angry with me today because I didn’t perform that well. I could see him shaking his head. So yeah, he won’t be happy."

Even so, he pointed to the mental side of the game as decisive, highlighting the balance he tried to strike between competitiveness and respect. "But it was a mental game. I prepared really well, I was hungry, but hungry with respect for Peter Wright. And I know he’s struggling."

That respect, he suggested, can become a factor in matches like this. "To be honest, I was thinking if I play well, I’m going to win. But I wanted to show him respect, and sometimes that respect can show weakness as well. That’s something you have to manage."

Huybrechts ultimately got the job done, but his reaction underlined that this was not a straightforward win, either in performance or emotion, as he continues his efforts to rebuild consistency on the European Tour.