The wife of Kim Huybrechts, Dana Verhaegen-Huybrechts, has claimed her husband has not reached his potential in darts because he lacks drive and desire. The Belgian was knocked out of the World Darts Championship last week by Richard Veenstra in a poor display that prompted him to vow to improve in 2024.
‘The Hurricane’ was beaten 3-0 by Veenstra in the second round of the competition, failing to take a single leg against his opponent. Huybrechts looked crest-fallen as the game drew to the close, with Veenstra brimming with confidence as he entered the last 32 with a top performance – averaging 99.46 and a finishing percentage of 64 per cent.
The one-sided result surprised many, though Huybrechts’ wife is likely to have expected an outcome along these lines. She recently told Nieuwsblad Sport that she believes the world No 31 is capable of getting more out of his sporting career if he knuckles down and truly focuses on improving his darts.
Verhaegen-Huybrechts said: “Kim is actually a spoiled brat. He’s addicted to Football Manager while I do everything around the house. Kim has so much talent, but no character. Lazy is an understatement.”
Although Dana is brutally honest in her analysis of her partner, Kim is said to be urged to practice playing by his wife on a daily basis – and she truly believes that her husband is capable of being one of the best in the business if he applies himself correctly.
“It’s inhuman how he stands here sometimes throwing,” Verhaegen-Huybrechts continued. “One 180 after another. I believe he can win against anyone if he is on form. Even Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen.”
It remains to be seen how Huybrechts responds to his ‘public grilling’ and whether the interview prompts him to try and improve further now that the darts community is aware of his work ethic. However, the 38-year-old may not need any further urging as he vowed to hit the ground running in 2024 and focus solely on his own performances – and not what his rivals are doing – after his match with Veenstra.
Speaking after the defeat, he explained: “From 2024 it’s just Kim Huybrechts and nobody else. I’m not going to look at other players in the world anymore. Number one, two or three in the world, it doesn’t interest me anymore. Also, the other Belgians. I tried to take them pretty far, but I don’t care about all that now either.”
