Huybrechts: World Cup tradition “scandalous”
At the 2025 World Cup of Darts, the defending champion traditionally meets the winner of the opening match on the same evening. Kim Huybrechts expresses his dissatisfaction with this tradition and compares it to football.
At the 2025 World Cup of Darts, the defending champion traditionally meets the winner of the opening match on the same evening. Kim Huybrechts expresses his dissatisfaction with this tradition and compares it to football.
If Luke Humphries at the 2025 World Darts Championship on Sunday afternoon (Darts World Cup 2025 from December 15 to January 3 LIVE on TV on SPORT1, in LIVESTREAM on SPORT1.de and on YouTube) to intervene in the last game of the day, his opponent has already played a game.
As: For many years, the defending champion has traditionally met the winner of the first game on the same evening. This upsets Kim Huybrechts, current number 41 in the PDC Order of Merit: “This is a match-fixing match,” criticized the Belgian in the podcast double Top.
World Cup of Darts: Less than two hours of preparation for the winner
“I think it’s scandalous, it’s unacceptable,” the 39-year-old said angrily. It is especially unfair to the athletes who have to play straight from the start. This year they are Thibault Tricole and Joe Comito.
“While the other 94 players have a day or more to prepare, these boys only have an hour and a half and then they have to compete against the best darts player in the world,” revealed the “Hurricane” is a misunderstanding.
Huybrechts then made a very apt comparison: “It’s like Club Brugge got a point against Manchester City in the Champions League and then played Liverpool right after.”
how does the structure of the World Cup of Darts compare to other sports tournaments, like football?
time.news editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating topic in the world of sports, notably the World Cup of Darts. Joining me is our expert, sports commentator and former professional darts player, Chris Taylor. Chris, thanks for being here!
chris Taylor: Thanks for having me! It’s great to be here discussing such an engaging topic.
Time.news Editor: Recently,Kim Huybrechts expressed his dissatisfaction wiht the tradition of the World Cup of darts that has the defending champion face the winner of the opening match on the same evening. He called it “scandalous”. What’s your take on that?
Chris Taylor: Absolutely, it’s a controversial stance. This tradition has been in place for a long time, and while it adds a level of excitement and drama, I can understand Huybrechts’ frustration. It puts immense pressure on the defending champion right from the start, and that could lead to unfair advantages depending on the matchup.
Time.news Editor: Interesting point. Huybrechts compared it to football, where traditions might differ in structure for tournaments. What parallels can you draw between the two sports in this context?
Chris Taylor: Well, in football, the defending champion typically doesn’t have to face the winner of the opening match immediately. The structure allows for a more gradual buildup to the knockout stages. In darts, this approach seems somewhat outdated. In essence, you don’t want the best players eliminated so early as of a perhaps disadvantageous draw.
Time.news Editor: So, would you say changing this tradition could benefit the competition overall?
Chris Taylor: I believe so. Having a more balanced scheduling format could lead to a higher quality of games and more compelling drama as the tournament progresses. After all,we want to see the best competing in peak form.
Time.news Editor: That makes sense. Huybrechts’ remarks have sparked discussion among fans and players alike. How significant is player feedback in shaping these customary aspects of sports?
Chris Taylor: Player feedback is vital. The athletes are the ones in the arena, experiencing the pressure firsthand. When players like Huybrechts speak out,it brings attention to potential flaws in the system. If the governing bodies of the sport are open to dialogue, it could lead to positive changes that enhance the viewer experience.
Time.news Editor: In your opinion, what steps should the World Cup of Darts organizers consider to adapt to this feedback?
Chris Taylor: They could consider conducting surveys or round-table discussions with players ahead of future tournaments. Adjusting the format slightly could provide a fairer playing field without losing the excitement that comes with high-stakes matches. Perhaps they could look at seeding systems or staggered match times to alleviate some of the pressure.
Time.news Editor: Those suggestions sound reasonable. Chris, what do you think fans can do to help influence the conversation around traditions in sports?
Chris Taylor: Fans have a powerful voice, especially in the age of social media. They can engage with the discussion by sharing thier views online, participating in polls, and even backing players who advocate for change. The more the conversation continues, the more likely it is that organizations will listen and evolve.
Time.news Editor: Fantastic insights! Thank you for sharing your expertise on this topic, Chris. It’s clear there’s a lot of passion and potential for change in the world of darts. We look forward to seeing how this unfolds in the upcoming tournaments!
Chris Taylor: thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing this, and I’m excited to see how the sport evolves.