Kim Huybrechts won his maiden PDC title with a 6-2 defeat of John Part in the final of the Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier Seven at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan.
The Belgian ace’s emergence as a force at the highest level of the sport continued with a brilliant day of darts as he finally claimed victory in a PDC event after reaching four previous finals.
Encouraged in Wigan by brother Ronny, who had partnered him to the World Cup of Darts final in February only weeks after the sudden death of their father, the younger Belgian shone in his early wins over Peter Evison, Ian Moss and Bernd Roith before hitting top gear.
Huybrechts saw off McCoy’s Premier League Darts stars Adrian Lewis, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson as he progressed to the final last night, as well as Scottish newcomer Jason Hogg, before then defeating three-time World Champion Part to take the title.
After the final’s opening two legs were shared, Huybrechts finished 93 to edge back ahead and punished missed doubles from the Canadian in the next three legs as he hit finishes of tops, 110 and 64 to move 5-1 up.
Part hit a second 180 of the game and double eight as he took leg seven, but Huybrechts was not to be denied, and when his opponent missed the bull in the next leg he swooped on double 16 to claim an emotional victory.
“I had a tough draw today against many top players and I’m so delighted that I won this tournament,” said Huybrechts. “It’s been so hard for me in the last couple of months and I’m very happy.
“I’ve been getting closer and to win this is the best day of my life. This is such a relief for me – the weight on my shoulders was so heavy and it’s all gone now.
“I want to build on this and go further and further now.”
He said: “Ronny knows the signals to give me when I’m feeling bad and when I’m feeling good, and I’m so happy that he’s here. It’s my first win and my big brother’s been here to watch it – I’m the happiest man in the world.”
Canadian star Part, March’s UK Masters winner, was denied a second ranking title of the year but picked up £3,000 for his run to the decider as he won seven games on the day, including a defeat of 2004 UK Open champion Roland Scholten.
Ross Smith followed up his victory on the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour last weekend by reaching his first PDC ProTour semi-final before losing 6-3 to Part, overcoming Mark Frost, Brett Claydon, Nigel Heydon, John Henderson and Kevin McDine.
Anderson, meanwhile, won through to the semi-finals for a fourth time in the seven UK Open Qualifiers as he continued his good form on the PDC ProTour.
The Scot played, and defeated, his protege Michael Smith in their first-ever competitive meeting, before seeing off Simon Whitlock, Tony West and Scott Rand.
Runs to the last eight for Beaton and McDine saw them reach the quarter-finals of a ProTour event for the first time in six months, where they were joined by Scott Rand and Scotland’s Jason Hogg.
Hogg enjoyed his best run on the PDC circuit as he reached the quarters, including wins over World Youth Champion James Hubbard, Ronny Huybrechts, UK Masters finalist Stuart Kellett and Andy Hamilton as he sealed his UK Open place.
Whitlock had earlier defeated Phil Taylor in their Last 64 meeting, coming from 5-3 down to edge to victory with a 13-darter in the deciding leg, while van Gerwen’s bid to win a fifth UK Open Qualifier of the year was ended in the Last 16.
The Dutchman was joined in the Last 16 by Michael Mansell, John Henderson, Colin Fowler, Dennis Smith, Andy Hamilton, Tony West and Wes Newton, who had earlier defeated James Wade.