"You saying I'm old?": Kim Huybrechts jokes after reaching final of European Darts Open in Leverkusen brought back up
PDCSaturday, 11 July 2026 at 08:48
Kim Huybrechts booked his place in the second round of the European Darts Open with an impressive victory. The experienced Belgian made full use of his experience to put European Tour debutant Samuel Price under pressure from the very start. Afterwards, Huybrechts stressed that his experience ultimately proved to be the decisive factor.
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For players making their first appearance on the European Tour stage, there is a lot to take in. The atmosphere, the crowd and the occasion make a debut anything but straightforward. Huybrechts knows that feeling better than most, having once stood on that stage for the first time himself.
"I remember my very first time, you're so nervous the first time you see the crowd, it gets to you so I'm happy with the experience that I've got now and yeah that's what got me over the line," he said on stage afterwards.
According to Huybrechts, that experience played a major role in his victory. By making a strong start, he gave his opponent little opportunity to settle into the match. Against a debutant especially, a fast start is often crucial because the pressure only continues to build.
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Fond memories
Although Huybrechts has been competing at the highest level for many years, he still looks back fondly on the many European Tour events he has played. The Belgian even reached the final of this tournament in 2015, when it was still held at a different venue.
When asked whether those memories make the event feel extra special, Huybrechts responded with a smile. "You saying I'm old?" he joked.
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"I've been going around for 16 years, so some venues mean more than other ones or the names of tournaments, but I think I've I've done the second start of my career and I want to get some new titles and names and finals so I'm not finished yet."
Kim Huybrechts moves into Wattimena test
Looking forward to clash with Wattimena
That ambition will face a serious test on Saturday. In the second round, Huybrechts takes on Jermaine Wattimena, a player renowned for his rapid pace and attacking style of play. Huybrechts is expecting an entertaining contest.
"Yeah if it's 40 degrees outside you don't want to play Jermaine Wattimena, you want to play Mickey Mansell so you have some time. No Jermaine's a quality player of course a very good player I'm gonna have to be very good to beat him, but I'm playing very well lately, he knows that I know that it's gonna be a good game."
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Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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