HUYBRECHTS SHOWS OFF THIRTY DIFFERENT SHIRTS

KIM HUYBRECHTS revealed he owns THIRTY different coloured jerseys and could soon need a bigger wardrobe to keep up at this rate.

The Belgian has turned the stage into something of a fashion show in recent years, having sported red, blue, black and green tops during his appearances. 

But it was his finishing that really stood out this time as Huybrechts nailed six of his 11 doubles to beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 and march into round two of the European Darts Grand Prix. 

The world No.57 has been in strong form this year, reaching the third round at each of the last two European Tour events, and he continued that momentum with another assured display. 

But his success has created an unexpected headache off the oche, with too many sponsors crammed onto his ever-growing collection of shirts. 

He said: “Thirty, but I am going to have to order new ones because I had thirty with ten local tournaments. 

“And I didn’t think I would qualify so much for these because I had a lot of sponsors on them. 

“So, I am going to have to make new ones with less sponsors.” 

Huybrechts reflected that coming back to Sindelfingen, the site of his 2015 triumph, brings back special memories and adds extra significance to his latest run. 

He continued: “I am very happy. In Wieze I had Niko Springer, in Munich I had Peter Wright and now I had Dirk. 

“To be here as a qualifier, you always get the tough draws, but if you keep winning them it is a good feeling. 

“I have won two European Tours, and if you win one in a venue and then have to come back there after a couple of years — because I don’t think I have qualified here for the last five or six years — yeah, it is special. 

“When I walked through the hallway there was a lot of connection again. So, I am very happy to be here.” 

Huybrechts returns to action on Saturday evening in Germany and will play James Wade for a place in the last 16.

Image by Taylor Lanning.