Kim Huybrechts moved into the second round of the 2026 German Darts Grand Prix with a 6-3 victory over Peter Wright in Munich, but the Belgian's post-match reaction revealed a contest laden with far more than just the scoreline. Huybrechts came through a match that never fully settled into rhythm, taking his chances at key moments, yet the context of facing a struggling Wright profoundly shaped his assessment.
"Yeah, it wasn’t that good, to be honest. But I have so much respect for Peter," Huybrechts said, downplaying his own level to focus on the emotional difficulty. "To see him struggle like this, it hurts a lot because I’ve been in that position myself. I haven’t had the same career as him, he’s absolutely one of the legends. But to see him struggle like this… for a darts player’s heart, that’s devastating." He emphasized the weight beyond the scoreboard, calling it "a very hard game emotionally."
Despite the win, Huybrechts expressed frustration with his performance, noting his work behind the scenes with Erik Clarys. "Yeah, he’s probably going to be angry with me today because I didn’t perform that well. I could see him shaking his head. So yeah, he won’t be happy." He highlighted the mental battle as decisive, stating, "But it was a mental game. I prepared really well, I was hungry, but hungry with respect for Peter Wright. And I know he’s struggling."
Huybrechts suggested that respect itself can become a factor in such matches. "To be honest, I was thinking if I play well, I’m going to win. But I wanted to show him respect, and sometimes that respect can show weakness as well. That’s something you have to manage." Ultimately, he got the job done, but his reaction underlined that this was not a straightforward win in performance or emotion as he continues efforts to rebuild consistency on the European Tour.
