Huybrechts dispatches Clemens to end title drought in Barnsley
Kim Huybrechts stormed to Players Championship 3 victory in Barnsley on Saturday thanks to a comprehensive 8-1 win over Germany no. 1 Gabriel Clemens.
Huybrechts produced a string of dominant performances to win the £12,000 top prize at the Barnsley Metrodome before sending Clemens on Saturday’s showpiece to clinch his first PDC title since 2015.
Clemens suffered an 8-0 loss to Dirk van Duijvenbode in a ProTour final 12 months ago and it looked like he would eventually suffer the same fate.
Huybrechts clinched first blood with a two-dart 78 checkout before punishing Clemens’ wastage to take a 5-0 lead, despite the German winning four of those legs with double darts.
The Antwerp ace then converted 70 and 117 finishes in consecutive legs to move 7-0 to the brink of victory, only for Clemens to open his account in the eighth leg with a 103 outshot.
That gave Clemens only temporary respite, however, as Huybrechts sealed the deal with a 16-dart hold over the double eight to return to the winners’ circle in style.
“It means the world to me. I’m so happy,” reflected Huybrechts, who celebrated his fifth PDC title.
“I’ve worked very hard since the World Cup. I lost two games last weekend averaging 103 and 98 and thought that can’t always happen but the level is so high these days.
“When I won my last title, I was on the rise. My name was always there and now I wasn’t even in the conversation, so this win means everything.
“I want to be in the top 16 again. I want to be qualified for everything. I want to be back at the top of the top ten in the world.
“That’s my goal and some people will say I won’t achieve it, but you have to set goals in your life and I believe in my own abilities.”
The Belgian frontrunner underscored his credentials with a stunning opening-round win over 112-average Devon Petersen to sweep the South African star aside.
Huybrechts edged out Players Championship 1 semi-finalist Dylan Slevin and beat Premier League star Nathan Aspinall with a 102 average before passing Ricardo Pietreczko to secure his last eight places.
The 37-year-old then braved a valiant comeback from Josh Rock to secure his semi-final spot, notching a 13-dart hold in the final leg after Rock roared back for equalization from a 5-1 deficit.
This led to a semi-final showdown against his old opponent Gerwyn Price, but the Belgian emerged victorious 7-3 despite a brief rally by the Welshman midway through the competition.
Clemens – appearing in his seventh PDC final – failed to secure his elusive top-ranked title, but he continued his strong start to 2023 to secure the £8,000 second-place prize .
The semi-finalist of the world championship drove past Jules van Dongen in his opening round, whom he followed up with victories over Jose Justicia, Kevin Doets and European champion Ross Smith.
Clemens continued his progress with a quarterfinal win over Latvia’s Madars Razma before delivering four straight legs from a 4-3 deficit to defeat Canada’s Matt Campbell in the last four.
Campbell conquered Dutch trio Vincent van der Voort, Niels Zonneveld and Gian van Veen as he reached the semifinals while also beating Bradley Brooks and Mike De Decker.
Price, meanwhile, marked his first ProTour appearance of 2023 with a strong performance at Barnsley, edging James Hurrell 6-5 with a 104 average in his daily performance.
The Welshman also edged out Callum Goffin, Scott Williams, Richard Veenstra and Andrew Gilding to advance to the semi-finals and claimed £4,000 for his exploits.
Remarkably, eight different nationalities were represented in Saturday’s quarterfinals, with Gilding, Razma and Van Veen losing in the last eight alongside World Youth Champion Rock.
This weekend’s ProTour action continues on Sunday with Players Championship 4 taking place at the Barnsley Metrodome where 128 players will battle it out live for the £12,000 top prize PDCTV.
The draw and the results of the event will be listed in the Match Center.
Click here for game statistics.
Player Championship 2023 3rd
Saturday February 18th
Barnsley Metrodome
last 16
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Jamie Hughes
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Richard Veenstra
Kim Huybrechts 6-2 Ricardo Pietreczko
Josh Rock 6-3 Adam Warner
Gabriel Clemens 6-3 Ross Smith
Madar’s Razma 6-4 Danny Noppert
Matt Campbell 6-2 Niels Zonneveld
Gian van Veen 6-4 Jonny Clayton
quarter finals
Gerwyn Price 6-5 Andrew Gilding
Kim Huybrechts 6-5 Josh Rock
Gabriel Clemens 6-3 Madars Razma
Matt Campbell 6-3 Gian van Veen
semifinals
Kim Huybrechts 7-3 Gerwyn Price
Gabriel Clemens 7-4 Matt Campbell
final
Kim Huybrechts 8-1 Gabriel Clemens