“Your heart rate goes, your hand goes” - Kim Huybrechts survives Chris Dobey thriller to continue redemption run in Riesa

Kim Huybrechts kept his 2026 International Darts Open run alive in dramatic fashion on Saturday night, edging out Chris Dobey 6-5 in Riesa to secure another deciding-leg victory over ‘Hollywood’ on the European Tour.

The Belgian had already beaten Dobey by the same scoreline in Graz, and this latest meeting followed a familiar pattern. Huybrechts looked to have taken control when a 70 checkout moved him 5-3 in front, but Dobey refused to go away and pushed the match all the way to the final leg.

For Huybrechts, the relief was obvious. Beating Dobey once in a tight European Tour battle is difficult enough. Doing it again under pressure was another sign that ‘The Hurricane’ remains a dangerous opponent when the key moments arrive.

“Fair play to Chris as well,” Huybrechts said after the match. “He’s one of the best players in the world. To beat him, I’m very happy with that.”

The match turned into another tense battle between two players who have now produced back-to-back 6-5 contests on the European Tour.

Huybrechts had the chance to move clear when he built that 5-3 lead, but there was no sense of comfort against a player of Dobey’s scoring power. In the closing stages, the Belgian admitted he feared the match was slipping away. “When I was on 76 and I hit the big 5, I was thinking, no, not at this moment,” he said. “I thought I was losing because Chris was playing fantastic.”

Dobey then missed two darts that could have changed the outcome, giving Huybrechts one final chance to close it out. The Belgian took it immediately, and afterwards explained just how important that first dart proved to be.

“He missed two darts, gave me the chance,” said Huybrechts. “Luckily, with the first dart, I finished. If you go for the third dart, your heart rate goes, your hand goes. I’m really happy with the win.”

That pressure-dart finish carried extra weight because of where Huybrechts currently finds himself. The Belgian is trying to build momentum again, and victories like this give substance to the “road to redemption” theme put to him on stage after the match.

This was not just a routine place on finals day. It was another win over a top-level opponent, another tight match held together under pressure, and another sign that Huybrechts can still hurt big names when his scoring and finishing line up.

The margin also matters. Dobey had enough chances to force a different outcome, but Huybrechts stayed alive long enough to take the one that mattered most. In a race to six, especially against a player of Dobey’s level, those moments often decide everything.

Huybrechts now moves into the third round in Riesa, where Ryan Searle awaits. After two recent 6-5 wins over Dobey on the European Tour, the Belgian’s final-day place feels like more than survival. It is another step in a run that is starting to carry real meaning.