The future of Dutch darts arguably appears more formidable than ever at present. Hot on the heels of the likes of Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman – and even factoring in Niels Zonneveld’s scintillating start to this season’s Euro Tour – another name rapidly ascending through the ranks is Kevin Doets, a player very much on a pronounced upward trajectory.
Prior to last weekend’s German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, Hawkeye had never ventured into the latter stages of a Euro Tour event. Therefore, a run to the semi-finals – where he was eventually halted by Nathan Aspinall – represented a significant and career-defining breakthrough.
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In truth, this should come as little surprise. The Netherlands has been a prolific breeding ground for world-class darting talent for decades, a lineage that traces back to the pioneering figure and, as many would argue, the godfather of the sport in that nation, Raymond van Barneveld. Just over a decade ago, Michael van Gerwen exploded onto the scene, forging a legacy that remains firmly embedded among the most illustrious in the sport’s history, despite still operating at an elite level today.
The subsequent emergence of Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode only served to reinforce that formidable Dutch stronghold. More recently, Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman have emphatically underlined their credentials as players destined to inhabit the sport’s upper echelons for years to come.
So, the pertinent question becomes: is the Dutch-born, Sweden-based Kevin Doets on the cusp of propelling himself into that esteemed company? Based on his sustained progression over recent seasons and his increasingly compelling performances, few would be inclined to dismiss the possibility.
Once somewhat obscured within a constellation of high-profile names at The Sportsman Management Company – a stable that boasted four PDC major champions – Doets now radiates as its most luminous figure. In a roster that previously included James Wade, Glen Durrant, Dimitri Van den Bergh and José de Sousa, the spotlight was invariably directed elsewhere.
However, the landscape has undergone a notable transformation. Duzza stepped away from competitive play to pursue a career behind the microphone. Wadey sought fresh pastures. The Special One’s trajectory waned, culminating in the loss of his tour card. And for two-time Belgian major winner, Dimitri, the path appears increasingly uncertain.
The consequence of this evolution is clear: Kevin Doets has emphatically established himself as the organisation’s brightest beacon.
To trace the genesis of Hawkeye’s ascent, one must rewind four years to European Q-School, where Doets secured his professional tour card by finishing third on the Order of Merit. Far from an unknown quantity, the Almere native had already demonstrated his pedigree with dual triumphs on both the PDC Development and Challenge Tours – indicators of promise, albeit not guarantees of future eminence.
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Then, at just 23 years of age, Doets compiled a sequence of commendable performances across Players Championship events over the ensuing two years, ensuring his retention on the circuit. His most notable run during that period culminated in a narrow runner-up finish in Barnsley, where he was edged out by Luke Humphries towards the end of 2023.
The 2024 World Championship draw then catapulted Doets into immediate prominence. A potential opening-night encounter with reigning champion Michael Smith loomed large. First, however, he was tasked with navigating past Stowe Buntz in the tournament’s curtain-raiser, with the prize being a shot at the title-holder later that same evening.
Having dispatched the American, Doets came tantalisingly close to producing a seismic upset. Were it not for a moment of sublime, perfectly timed brilliance from Bullyboy, the narrative may have unfolded very differently. Though he exited Alexandra Palace without victory, Doets departed with widespread plaudits, having pushed the champion to the brink with a breath-taking display.
In a curious twist of sporting symmetry, exactly one year later, the two were drawn to meet once more on darts’ grandest stage. By this point, Smith was no longer the reigning champion, yet still a formidable opponent. This time, however, Doets completed the statement, securing a landmark victory en route to a deeply impressive World Championship campaign that ultimately concluded in the fourth round after the Christmas break, edged out by Chris Dobey in a deciding set.
Throughout last season’s Players Championship circuit, Doets epitomised consistency. While a maiden title narrowly eluded him, his campaign was punctuated by a series of deep runs, including a remarkable sequence of four consecutive quarter-final appearances. Towards the end of 2025, he advanced a step further, reaching the semi-finals before being denied a place in the final by Ryan Searle.
Consistency, of course, is the elusive currency all darting professionals covet – particularly those knocking insistently on the door of the world’s top 16.
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Building on that momentum, Doets enjoyed another commendable run to the fourth round of the World Championship, notably overcoming two-time major winner Nathan Aspinall along the way, before succumbing to a dominant performance from Luke Humphries.
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Now hovering on the precipice of the world’s top 32, it feels less a question of if and more when that threshold will be breached. The early stages of the current season have been highly encouraging. Across the opening eight Players Championship events, Doets has registered two quarter-final appearances and a semi-final run in Leicester – placing him among the most productive performers on the floor thus far.
On the Euro Tour, despite participating in only half of this season’s events, he currently occupies a commendable position inside the top 16, bolstered significantly by his semi-final run in Munich.
At present, Kevin Doets resides firmly within the “one to watch” bracket – a player advancing with palpable momentum and yet another prodigious Dutch talent who appears increasingly poised to challenge for major honours in the not-too-distant future.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
