Jimmy van Schie could hardly believe his luck after his spectacular first-round victory over Kim Huybrechts at the Dutch Darts Championship. The Dutchman survived four match darts before edging the match 6-5 in Maastricht with a brilliant 116 checkout. After the match, Van Schie admitted in an interview with Viaplay that he had barely expected to leave the stage as the winner.

“Yes, that’s unbelievable,” Van Schie said when asked how good the victory felt. “It wasn’t brilliant, but each time I did just enough. I only had to break his throw once. He was fantastic in his own legs. There was nothing I could do. But this was the only chance I got to win the match. Brilliant, fantastic.”

“I was simply the weaker player”

Van Schie was remarkably honest about the balance of play. In his view, Huybrechts was the better player for much of the match, but the Belgian’s missed doubles helped him stay in contention. “One hundred per cent. I was simply the weaker player of the two. But you have to try to win matches like that as well. And if this is how it has to be done, then so be it.”

Van Schie looked close to elimination several times, especially in the closing stages. Huybrechts had four match darts in total but could not find the decisive double.

Van Schie said he had not felt particularly comfortable throughout the match. “I didn’t feel settled at all. I got better, but so did he. I just couldn’t get among his own legs. Then, when he kept missing, you start to feel a little hope. And then that one finish goes in, followed by the last one.”

That final finish was one to remember. With 116 points left, Van Schie produced the checkout to seal the win and give the Maastricht crowd a thrilling finish.

“That was a hurdle I really had to get over”

Van Schie was visibly emotional afterwards. It was not only the manner of his victory, but also the fact that he had lost several close matches recently.

“I never thought I was going to win this match. Not at all. If you count everything, I’ve lost about six matches in the last 16 recently. That was a hurdle I really had to get over.”

Those earlier defeats had also been on his mind in the build-up to his match against Huybrechts. “It was on my mind all day. I thought, come on, surely I have to beat him once?”

Van Schie was not too concerned that the win had not come through a dominant performance. The victory, and the prospect of playing in front of the Dutch crowd again, brought huge relief. “It wasn’t dominant, but a win is a win. And I’m in the second round tomorrow.”

Van Schie will therefore get another chance on Saturday to perform on the Maastricht stage. The prospect clearly lifted his spirits. “I get to enjoy this wonderful crowd again. Fantastic.”