Doets there it is! Kevin Doets rides out Ratajski rollercoaster and survives 4 missed matchdarts to book his place in last 16 of 2025 PDC World Darts Championship

Kevin Doets has prevailed in a rollercoaster encounter with Krzysztof Ratajski at the Ally Pally to book his place in the last 16 at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship with a 4-3 win, surviving four missed matchdarts from Ratajski in the process.

Much has been made of Kevin Doets since his victory over Michael Smith earlier this tournament. The Dutchman struggled to replicate that kind of form early on in this one though as a ruthless Krzysztof Ratajski romped through the opening set 3-0, not even allowing Doets a single dart at double in the process, despite only averaging around 88.

Although Doets had his first chance on the outer ring in leg 1 of set 3, he couldn't take it, with Ratajski punishing to take a 4th straight leg. A solid hold of throw followed for a fifth successive leg to the Pole and a few moments later, Ratajski pinned double 8 to continue his streak and stretch his advantage to 2-0 in sets.

Finally showing signs of life, Doets began the opening set with 4 perfect darts. Although there was no nine, Doets sealed an 11-dart break of throw on double 16 for his first leg of the match. Ratajski though, fired back with an immediate break of his own, squashing any momentum Doets had built up in the first leg. Fair play to the Dutchman though, he continued his resurgence, putting on the pressure again in leg 3 to break Ratajski and then holding in leg 4 to get a set on the board at 2-1 down.

Doets was now in full flow and set 4 was comprehensively the Dutchman's he raced through it 3-0 with legs of 15, 13 and 15. As a result, as both players headed off stage for the break, the scores were all levelled up once again at two sets apiece.

In truth, there seemed only one winner if Doets could keep up the level of sets 3 and 4. As the Dutchman just went ever so slightly off the boil again in set 5 though, Ratajski looked set to punish. With the Pole sat on 52 for the set, Doets sparked back into life at the most opportune moment to force a deciding leg with a roof-raising 170 finish. Ratajski still had the advantage of throw though, and staying focused the Polish Eagle found double 18 to take set 5 and get back in front at 3-2.

Pinning a 126 on the bull to break the Doets throw in the first leg of set 6, Ratajski was surging towards the winning line. As the next two legs both went with the darts, Ratajski had the chance to throw for the match in leg 4, but blew three matchdarts at doubles 13, 4 and 2. Doets punished to keep himself alive. Another matchdart came and went at the bullseye in the next leg too and again Doets was on hand, popping a 68 checkout to make it 3-3 and push Ratajski back to three legs from victory.

Showing good mental strength, Ratajski quickly bounced back to hold throw in the opening leg of set 7. As the crowd became more and more vocal in their support of Doets, the Dutchman responded with some more of his best darts to level up the set and then pressure Ratajski in leg 3. As Ratajski missed four for the leg, Doets capitalized to move one leg from a famous win. And with his second matchdart, victory was secured in the next leg.