‘It’s not fair’ – Darts star compares ‘outrageous’ PDC World Championship format to Liverpool clash
Kim Huybrechts has slammed a rule that requires a player to perform twice on the opening night of the World Darts Championships. The format sees the winner of the opening match of the tournament return later in the evening to take on the defending champion. The darts star has criticised the formatGETTY French player Thibault Tricole is first up to the stage on Sunday where he will face Australian Joe Comito, with the winner of that match to return later on to battle Luke Humphries. The reigning champion is one of 32 high-ranking players who will enter the competition at the second-round stage, but Humphries will now receive what could pan out as an additional warm-up match. Huybrechts believes the schedule is unfair and says that facing the champion after a first-round match is too much for anyone on opening night. The Belgian even likened the scenario to Club Brugge facing Liverpool and Manchester City on the same evening. “I think it’s outrageous that they are doing this. Really outrageous, I don’t think that’s acceptable,” Huybrechts told the Double Top podcast, via DartsNews. “It has happened once so far that the reigning world champion was straight out and that was John Part. “For the rest, we haven’t even come close to such a shock. Other than Kevin Doets last year against Michael Smith. “Now we have Tricole against Comito. The latter comes all the way from Australia and maybe he’s going to surprise. “That one is then going to have a wow feeling and then they tap his back, ‘Hey, in an hour you have to throw again’. “Whereas all the other 94 players have a day or days to let it all sink in. Huybrechts could face Gerwyn Price if he comes through his opening round matchGETTY World Champion Luke Humphries provides the opposition for the winner of the opening match at Ally PallyGetty “These guys have an hour and a half and then they have to compete against the best darter in the world. “That’s like Club Brugge in the Champions League being happy with a point against Manchester City and then having to get right back into it against Liverpool. “In no other sport do you go through something like that. So again, I don’t see it happening that the world champion will be out soon. “Why does it necessarily have to play on the first day? “It’s not fair.” Huybrechts kicks off his World Championship campaign on opening night as he faces Ireland’s Keane Barry in a first-round clash. The first of the big hitters lie in wait should Huybrechts come through unscathed, with Gerwyn Price awaiting the winner in a second-round match scheduled for Monday evening.
Kim Huybrechts has slammed a rule that requires a player to perform twice on the opening night of the World Darts Championships.
The format sees the winner of the opening match of the tournament return later in the evening to take on the defending champion.
French player Thibault Tricole is first up to the stage on Sunday where he will face Australian Joe Comito, with the winner of that match to return later on to battle Luke Humphries.
The reigning champion is one of 32 high-ranking players who will enter the competition at the second-round stage, but Humphries will now receive what could pan out as an additional warm-up match.
Huybrechts believes the schedule is unfair and says that facing the champion after a first-round match is too much for anyone on opening night.
The Belgian even likened the scenario to Club Brugge facing Liverpool and Manchester City on the same evening.
“I think it’s outrageous that they are doing this. Really outrageous, I don’t think that’s acceptable,” Huybrechts told the Double Top podcast, via DartsNews.
“It has happened once so far that the reigning world champion was straight out and that was John Part.
“For the rest, we haven’t even come close to such a shock. Other than Kevin Doets last year against Michael Smith.
“Now we have Tricole against Comito. The latter comes all the way from Australia and maybe he’s going to surprise.
“That one is then going to have a wow feeling and then they tap his back, ‘Hey, in an hour you have to throw again’.
“Whereas all the other 94 players have a day or days to let it all sink in.
“These guys have an hour and a half and then they have to compete against the best darter in the world.
“That’s like Club Brugge in the Champions League being happy with a point against Manchester City and then having to get right back into it against Liverpool.
“In no other sport do you go through something like that. So again, I don’t see it happening that the world champion will be out soon.
“Why does it necessarily have to play on the first day?
“It’s not fair.”
Huybrechts kicks off his World Championship campaign on opening night as he faces Ireland’s Keane Barry in a first-round clash.
The first of the big hitters lie in wait should Huybrechts come through unscathed, with Gerwyn Price awaiting the winner in a second-round match scheduled for Monday evening.
