Huybrechts dancing with joy after late call-up glory

KIM HUYBRECHTS reckons he was dancing with joy even before his 11th hour stunner at the European Championship.

The Belgian rivalled Luke Woodhouse's nine-darter for the story of the night with his 6-1 demolition of Ryan Searle.

Last weekend, the 40-year-old was in despair having missed out by a single place in qualifying for Dortmund.

However, the illness which meant Luke Humphries had to withdraw swung open a door for Huybrechts which he stormed through in sizzling fashion.

In silencing Heavy Metal, he gained a first European Championship win in 11 years and he opened up on the background to his last-gasp appearance and how it may have helped him sink Searle.

Huybrechts explained: "I think it was the late call that helped me, to be honest. There was no expectations, I was scheduled for doing the commentary box on Belgian TV on Sunday, I was going to play league tomorrow, a tournament on Saturday, just have some fun with friends and then all of a sudden you get a message, somebody is not feeling really well, there is a chance you might have to play.

"So this morning I got a call. [Tournament Director] Graham Fairhurst. Dancing around the house just before I picked up, so happy days. He says: Can you come to Dortmund? I said straight away: Of course. The rest is history, I think."

Huybrechts was sickened last weekend in Maastricht when he felt his chance to play at the Euro Finals had evaporated and he added: "I thought I blew another chance. I blew the Matchplay, that was close, I was I think first or second reserve. Grand Prix, just dropped out. Bottled that. Same with the European Championships and I was thinking: That is three in a year.

"The main goal was keep your Tour card. That was the big red flag. When that's safe, you can go for other type of goals and can keep your safety behind that main goal, but you don't feel good with it. You understand what I mean? "You can't lose sight of the main goal, but in the prospect of the year, you get side goals and this was one of the side goals.

"We all want to play majors. I'm not here to make up numbers, I'm not here to make up just the Top 64, I want to be that Top 25, Top 32, Top 10, Top Five, it doesn't matter, I want to be among them numbers. That's me."