"I got a phone call that Boris was out… then I kicked it up a notch" – Sybren Gijbels seizes Lakeside reprieve with thrilling win

Sybren Gijbels has made full use of his late call-up to the 2025 WDF World Championship, defeating Kevin Luke 3–2 on Friday night to reach round two at Lakeside.

The Belgian, drafted in after Boris Krcmar withdrew, repeated last year’s result by once again overcoming the American in a deciding-set win in the opening round.

Luke made the stronger start, producing two 180s and securing two breaks of throw on his way to a 3–1 opening set. Gijbels admitted afterwards that it “was a rough game” early on with “much looser darts” than he wanted, but he immediately corrected course.

Legs of 17, 18 and 18 darts levelled the match, before he swept the third set to nil to extend his run to six consecutive legs. Luke responded with a string of clinical finishes — 97, 102 and 120 — to force a deciding set, but Gijbels controlled the fifth entirely, taking it 3–0 and booking a second-round meeting with David Pallett.

Krcmar had originally qualified but withdrew due to commitments elsewhere, including a soft-tip event in Japan during the same week, on top of his place at the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship. As first reserve, Gijbels stepped in — and he revealed he had already been preparing for the possibility.

“When I came home from the World Masters in Hungary, I immediately started training because I knew there was a chance somebody was going to fall out with the qualifiers,” he said. “Then I got a phone call from Nick that Boris was out, and then I kicked it up a notch from the training at home.”

Gijbels said last year’s debut and his appearance on the European Tour in Wieze have helped him settle on stage. “I think it helps me a lot that I already got experience on stage,” he noted.

But while he may be more confident, he isn’t making any bold claims about how far this Lakeside run could go. “No. I look at game after game. I don’t put a goal in front of me on an occasion like this. It’s just game after game.”

He also credited his support team for helping him stay composed during the match’s momentum swings. “I look to my friends and they do signs and shout at me like, ‘take your time, be calm.’ If I feel nervous, I take a sip of my water and that brings my heartbeat down.”

A late entrant, a repeat win over the same opponent, and a place in the second round secured — Gijbels’ unexpected return to Lakeside is already paying off. Next up: David Pallett.