Darts player Heijbrechts on player indifference: It broke my game.

Kim Heijbrechts' acknowledgment of difficulties

According to The Sun: Kim Heijbrechts spoke about how the indifference from other players on the PDC tour undermined his confidence and 'broke' his game.

The 'Hurricane' was once a star of the sport - a European champion, a Premier League player, and a finalist in the players' championship. However, the Belgian master admits that the cold reception from opponents negatively affected him during the best moments of his career.

In an interview with 'Juicy Darts', he noted:

“At the beginning of my career, I was the 'bad guy', and it worked. I celebrated a lot and played aggressively.”

“But when I played in the Premier League, I felt hostility. Some players wouldn't even say hello. It changed me. I wanted to be liked, and it broke my game.”

“The criticism I received hit hard on my confidence. But those celebrations were from genuine emotion, not arrogance. That was my way of saying: yes, I won this game!”

After a personal loss, his career fell, and Heijbrechts gradually lost positions in the world rankings.

He shared that he is working hard to regain his ranking and self-belief, saying:

“It was a very tough period. I live to win, and that loss hit me hard.”

“I am working on myself, trying to lose weight, walking, and training with Eric Klimas. I think my level is currently somewhere between 40th and 50th in the world.”

Heijbrechts emphasized that he is not playing poorly, but he lacks accuracy in critical moments:

“Today you need an average score of 95 to win a game on the Pro Tour. One bad dart can change everything.”

He also noted that he often does not appear in promotional materials for the European tour:

“Right now, I often don’t appear there. It’s fine, but it shows how quickly you are forgotten when you no longer reach the finals.”

Plans for the future

Ranked 29th in the world, Heijbrechts has faced difficulties this year, not reaching the quarter-finals in the ProTour and Euro Tour. His best performances include making it to the last 16 in Players Championship Two and the third round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy.

The former Grand Prix finalist believes that a change in mentality is necessary for successful performances on a big stage:

“Before, I feared no one. Whether it’s Phil Taylor or Gary Anderson, I thought: I'll beat you.”

“But now sometimes I think: oh, he’s in good shape or has a high rating. This needs to stop. I’m working on becoming a predator again, not a prey.”

Heijbrechts is trying to regain his former form and confidence to return to the darts throne. His struggle is opening a new chapter in his career, and many fans are eagerly awaiting his comeback. The athlete has already identified key areas for improving his game, so exciting competitions and new opportunities lie ahead.