KIM HUYBRECHTS has revealed how being frozen out by fellow players on the PDC tour shattered his confidence and “broke” his game.
‘The Hurricane’ was once one of the sport’s big names — a European Tour champion, Premier League player and Players Championship Finals runner-up.
GettyKim Huybrechts has his confidence shattered[/caption]
But the Belgian ace admits the frosty treatment from rivals left a lasting mark at the height of his career.
He told Juicy Darts: “In my early days I was the ‘bad guy’, and it worked. I celebrated hard and played with aggression.
“But when I was in the Premier League, I felt hostility. Some players didn’t even say hello. That changed me. I wanted to be liked, and it broke my game.
“The criticism I got hurt my confidence. But those celebrations came from pure emotion, not arrogance. It was my way of saying: yes, I’ve got this leg!”
Huybrecht’s time at the top level dropped after a family bereavement, the 39-year-old’s form dipped, and he plummeted outside the top 32 Order of Merit.
He says he’s working hard on and off the oche to rebuild both his ranking and belief, adding: “That was a really difficult time.
“I’m someone who lives to win, and that loss hit me very hard.
“I’m working hard, trying to lose some weight by walking, and training with Erik Clarys. I think my level is somewhere between 40th and 50th in the world right now.
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“I’m not playing badly, but at crucial moments I miss that winning double. It’s mental.
“These days you have to average 95 just to win a game on the Pro Tour. One bad dart can make all the difference.
“When I see promo videos for the European Tour, I’m often not in them.
“That’s fine, but it shows how quickly people forget you when you’re not reaching finals anymore.
“I used to be everywhere, now I’m not. That motivates me to fight my way back.”
The World No.29 has endured a tough campaign this year after failing to reach a quarter-final on the ProTour and Euro Tour.
Huybrechts’ standout performances this year include reaching the last 16 at Players Championship Two and the third round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy.
Former Grand Slam semi-finalist Huybrechts believes a change of mindset is needed to ensure future success on the big stage.
He said: “Back then I feared no one. Whether it was Phil Taylor or Gary Anderson, I thought: I’m going to beat you.
“Now sometimes I think: oh, he’s in good form or high in the rankings. That has to stop. I’m working to be more of a predator again, not a victim.”
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