Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri van den Bergh enjoyed shutting Michael van Gerwen up “Normally he has the biggest mouth on the whole ProTour”

Belgium’s 8-2 thrashing of the Netherlands saw Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri van den Bergh shine once more against at the World Cup of Darts. Michael van Gerwen returned to captain the Netherlands. Van Gerwen has frequently skipped the World Cup and the Dutchman was at the forefront of the Belgium duo’s minds.

Speaking to us in their post-match media the pair took great pleasure in quieting the overwhelming Dutch force. To make it to the last eight, they overcame six 180s and a tonne plus average from Van Gerwen and Noppert. They eliminated Van Duijvenbode and Noppert the previous year, and they accomplished the same thing this time around with a lesson in sheer doubling. Huybrechts was ecstatic with his post-match performance, which included an 89, a 129, and a 121 checkout.

Three or four years ago players wouldn’t have dreamed of taking such a public swipe at van Gerwen due to his dominance of everyone in his path. But over the last few years wins and eye-catching performances have been harder to come by for the great Dutchman.

The aura he once had has disappeared and now players don’t fear the once-conquering force in darts.

“The 129 went in, the 121 was especially hard because they had missed already three darts at a double. 82 and 86 out and if you keep doing that, you’re going to be so painful to opponents,” said Huybrechts.

“I’ve never heard Michael van Gerwen being quiet and I haven’t heard him the whole game. Normally he has the biggest mouth on the whole ProTour. We’ve both experienced that. He’s tried to pull it off so many times,” he continued.

“He’s a fantastic player mentally and talent wise. But i’ve never heard him so quiet. I heard Danny Noppert scream more than Michael van Gerwen,” they continued.

“Backstage he said this draw was meant to happen, that’s what he said. I was not expecting us to play this game but then again they played a phenomenal game as well. I was ready to rumble but I am dead proud of what Belgium just did against the Netherlands.”