Tinkerman Peter Wright was blown away by the 'Hurricane' as the world champion crashed out in one of Ally Pally's biggest upsets.
Take nothing away from Kim Huybrechts, the Belgian dark horse who pulled off a shock 4-1 win which reduced the lager-swilling fancy dress legions to stunned silence.
But 'Snakebite' was a pale imitation of the sure-fire marksman who lifted the Sid Waddell trophy 12 months ago.
And just as he made a limp exit from the PDC World Championship in the third round when he was defending his crown two years ago, Wright's elimination at the same stage was insufferably flat.
He didn't get carried out on his shield. He was wheeled home in a shopping trolley.
After a year interrupted by illness, patchy form and his wife Jo being in and out of hospital in the build-up to the biggest show in darts, perhaps Wright's defeat was signposted.
But the manner of his surrender was listless, faltering and shambolic.
The No.2 seed bounded on stage in a festive top reminiscent of your Christmas jumper with the air of a man who believed it would be all right on the night.
But he ran into an inspired opponent who has never been past the quarter-finals, and when 37-year-old Huybrechts nailed double 18 at the third time of asking, Wright looked as bemused as a day tripper who has missed his coach home from the seaside.
Huybrechts, waving a Belgian flag joyously on stage, was gracious in victory, admitting: “I didn't beat the real Peter Wright up there.
“Normally he is about 20 times better than that, and everybody knows he is a much better player so I am not going to be arrogant or cocky - but I took my chances.
“I've beaten the reigning champion, the world No.2 and I'm going to be here for a couple more fun days.
“But the person Peter Wright was there – the player wasn't.”
When Wright took the opening set, it looked like plain sailing for the champion.
But inexplicably, his game fell apart and he was all over the shop like a store detective.
With the crowd stunned into silence, apart from the occasional whistle of derision, Wright resorted to changing his darts – a familiar trait, even when he is winning – but this time it was no more effective than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
It was the night Snakebite lost his venom, averaging just 91.28 and missing 17 of his 25 shots at a double.
Wright, 52, said: “I didn’t have the right preparation coming here. I didn’t have enough practice for this tournament.
“I didn’t turn up at all. Kim did what he did and got over the line. I will always get rubbish years and then come back and win.”
Having knocked out the landlord, Huybrechts now meets Wright's former lockdown lodger – and compatriot – Dimitri van den Bergh in the last 16.
