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Back in the day with: Ronny Huybrechts - From World Cup of Darts brilliance to failed return

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Sep 3, 2025 9:21 AM ET

In this column, we regularly go back in the day with a particular darter. Today we do so with Belgian Ronny Huybrechts, whose highlight was reaching the final at the World Cup of Darts.

Ronny Huybrechts was born on July 20, 1965 in Antwerp, Belgium. Ronny is the older half-brother of current professional darts player Kim Huybrechts, they have the same father but a different mother. He started with the BDO in 1992, but limited himself mainly to tournaments in Belgium and neighboring countries and matches with the Belgian national team. Only later did he start competing in international tournaments.

In 2008, he captured his first international title by winning the Dortmund Open. At the Belgian level he was one of the absolute top players, which he proved by winning the Belgian Championship in both 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2010 he also won the Belgium Masters. That same year he was also the best at the Spring Cup, a now defunct tournament.

Breakthrough on the world stage

In 2013, Ronny Huybrechts captured his PDC Tour Card and was able to compete on the Pro Tour alongside his brother Kim. In 2013, they took part in the World Cup of Darts together. The duo immediately made history by becoming the first brothers ever to appear on this stage together. The start was impressive: in the group stage, they defeated Hungary 5-0.

Then followed a real stunt. The Belgians eliminated the Australian finalists from the previous year - Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson - 5-1, and that with a combined average score of over 101 points. In the quarterfinals against Croatia it was a repeat: Ronny himself convincingly won his singles match 4-1 against Robert Marijanović.

The semifinal against Finland was decided in doubles. The brothers played phenomenally and recorded an average of 105.47 - the highest ever in the three-year history of the tournament. Belgium was suddenly in the final, facing none other than Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis.

Ronny lost both singles (0-4 against Taylor and 2-4 against Lewis), after which the pressure was entirely on Kim. He had to beat Taylor to force a decisive double, but went down 1-4. Despite the defeat, the run was memorable. The brothers dedicated their performance to their father Ludo, who had died shortly before in December 2012.

First grand final in the PDC

Not long after, Ronny also made himself heard individually. During the first Players Championship of 2013 he surprised friend and foe. He eliminated big names like Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall and reached the semifinals, where he faced his brother Kim. In this historic duel - their first meeting in a PDC tournament - Ronny played the match of his life and won 6-1, good for an average of almost 108 points.

In the final, Robert Thornton awaited. This time it was Ronny who was on the wrong side of the score: Thornton played sublime with an average of 111 and swept him off the board 6-0. Still, the tone was set: Ronny Huybrechts could compete at the highest level.

Later that year, he caused the surprise of his career by beating none other than Phil Taylor at the European Championship. In the second round he beat the sixteen-time world champion 10-5. Then he reached the semifinals, where he lost 11-7 to Simon Whitlock after an exciting game. For a player who had only been active on the big stage for a short time, an achievement of stature.

The successful 2013 World Cup of Darts earned Ronny an invitation to the prestigious Grand Slam of Darts. There he wrote history again. After beating Christian Kist and Adrian Lewis, among others, he qualified for the last sixteen. His opponent: brother Kim. It was the first time two brothers met in a live televised darts match. Ronny lost 10-5, but the Huybrechts name was definitely established in darts history.

Also brotherly battle at World Darts Championships

Ronny first qualified for the World Championships in 2014, but fate immediately paired him with Kim again. Ronny started strong, taking the first set, but missed crucial opportunities. After missed doubles and a few unfortunate moments, the match still went 3-1 to his younger brother.

Despite the disappointment, he continued to impress. In the UK Open, he defeated Simon Whitlock and held a comfortable 7-3 lead against Adrian Lewis. Yet it went wrong: Lewis fought back and won 9-8. It became a season of just-not: quarter-finals and semifinals beckoned, but often it failed against the world's best.

Once again he and Kim wrote a strong chapter in the World Cup of Darts. This time they met Dutch greats Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld in the quarterfinals. Kim won his match from Van Gerwen, but Ronny lost narrowly to Van Barneveld. In the decisive double, the Dutch won 4-0.

2015 and 2016: Flashes of class

In 2015 and 2016, Ronny continued to show his class, although he lacked absolute consistency. At the 2016 World Cup, he showed his talent once again with a spectacular 164 finish against Dean Winstanley, then won the match 3-2. In the second round, however, Peter Wright was too strong.

At the Players Championship in 2016, he made it to the final one more time, where he was even ahead 3-0 against Simon Whitlock. However, he missed match darts and eventually lost 6-5. It was his first final in more than three years and proof that he still counted.

2017: A nine-darter and records

The highlight of 2017 came during a UK Open Qualifier, where Ronny threw the first nine-darter of his career - a magical moment that every darter strives for. He beat Gary Anderson, among others, and reached the final, but had to acknowledge his superiority there to Simon Whitlock.

During the World Cup of Darts, he also recorded the highest televised average by a Belgian ever (115.62 against Greece). A day later, Kim broke that record again with an even higher average, but together they reached their third semifinal in a row. The Belgian duo became a fixture on the international darts circuit.

Tough years and return

After 2017, things got tougher. The level within the PDC rose year after year, and Ronny did not always manage to hold his best form. At the end of 2019, he lost his PDC Tour Card. Attempts to return via Q-School in 2020, 2021 and 2022 failed. He did remain active on the Challenge Tour, where he was able to put his experience and class to use.

Only in 2023 came the well-deserved reward: Ronny finally managed to secure another PDC Tour Card. This gave him another chance to continue his career in the PDC and once again show that, even at a later age, he deserves his place at the highest level.

Ronny managed to win here and there against a top player in the following years, but the combination between work and darts became increasingly difficult. Because the PDC decided to make the Players Championships mid-week, he could no longer participate in all tournaments. This made the retention of his PDC Tour Card impossible and at the end of 2024 he announced his final departure from the PDC.

A career of respect and dedication

Ronny Huybrechts may never have won a major title, but his name is indelibly linked to the history of Belgian darts. He was the first Belgian to beat Phil Taylor at a major tournament, threw a nine-darter on television and was in the final of the World Cup of Darts.

More importantly, together with his brother Kim, he gave Belgium a permanent place in the international darts world. Where Kim often hogged the limelight, Ronny remained the quiet mainstay - the man who may not always make the headlines, but who showed time and again that he has mastered the game to perfection.

His career is one of struggle, emotion and above all love for the sport. For every Belgian darter who today dreams of success on the big stage, Ronny Huybrechts is a pioneer and an example.