"I didn’t win a title for no reason, I know I am capable of beating anyone": Deadly Doets won't be overawed by World Matchplay debut
PDCSaturday, 18 July 2026 at 18:30
For Kevin Doets, this week marks a special milestone in his career. The 28-year-old Dutchman will make his debut at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, a tournament widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events on the PDC calendar. After an outstanding first half of the season, Doets has more than earned his place among the world's elite and heads to the iconic Winter Gardens full of confidence.
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At the World Matchplay, the world's top 16 players take on the top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit. As a result, the field is consistently one of the strongest of the year, and for Doets, qualifying feels like the reward for years of hard work.
The Dutchman based in Sweden has firmly established himself on the international stage over the past few months. He claimed his first ranking title, reached his first-ever European Tour final, and climbed into the world's top 32 thanks to a string of consistent performances.
After years of steady progress, 2026 appears to have been the year of his definitive breakthrough. That makes his first appearance on Blackpool's famous stage even more special.
“These are the sorts of moments I’ve been working for since I won a Tour Card,” said Doets to PDC.
“In my opinion, the World Matchplay is one of the hardest tournaments to qualify for. This is one of the tournaments you really want to be at, and it is finally my time!
Heading to Blackpool full of confidence
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While some debutants arrive at their first World Matchplay with understandable nerves, Doets is radiating confidence. His results over the past few months give him every reason to feel that way.
“I’m feeling confident, 100 per cent.
“I won my first title, I made my first European Tour final and I pushed Luke Littler very close at the UK Open, so I’m in a really good place right now and hopefully I can continue that.”
That success did not come out of nowhere. Even before lifting his maiden PDC ranking title in May, Doets had already reached four semi-finals and three quarter-finals, proving week after week that he was capable of consistently challenging for titles.
The breakthrough finally came at Players Championship 13. After several near misses, everything clicked into place as Doets lifted his first-ever ranking title.
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First title brought huge relief
According to Doets, winning his first title meant far more than simply adding another trophy to his cabinet. Having his family there made the moment unforgettable.
“Winning that first title was amazing, especially because everyone was there,” continued Doets. “My parents were there, my girlfriend was there, her parents were there. My birthday was the day after, so it was really special to do it that day.
“It felt like a weight off my shoulders, because I had come close pretty much all year. I made a lot of semi-finals and quarter-finals, so to finally become a winner was a great feeling.”
There was little time to celebrate, though, as only a few days later Doets was back in the spotlight. At the Austrian Darts Open, he reached his first European Tour final.
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Although he ultimately lost to Josh Rock, the run to the final underlined that his ProTour title had been no fluke. Within the space of a few days, Doets proved on two different stages that he could now compete comfortably with the very best in the sport.
Kevin Doets has been outstanding in 2026.
Big stages bring out the best in Doets
Doets has already shown over the past two World Darts Championship campaigns that he thrives on the biggest stages.
On both occasions, he reached the last 16 and recorded impressive victories over former world champion Michael Smith and former major winner Nathan Aspinall.
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At the 2024/25 World Championship, he edged past Smith in a dramatic sudden-death tie-break. A year later, he arguably produced the finest televised performance of his career so far by winning six consecutive legs to stun Aspinall.
Those experiences have only strengthened his belief ahead of his World Matchplay debut. “I didn’t win a title for no reason. I know I am capable of beating anyone,” Doets continued.
“At the World Championship I’ve beaten some big names like Michael Smith, Krzysztof Ratajski and Nathan Aspinall, but that’s only one stage, so now I’m hoping I can do it on others as well.
“I really enjoy playing on the big stages, and I really enjoy playing in front of a big crowd. I think it brings the best out of me. I’m looking forward to the World Matchplay, and hopefully I’m going to produce some good results.
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“The target I set myself at the start of the year I’ve already reached! I really wanted to win my first title this year and I’m so pleased I did that, but my main target now is to be in the top 20 after the World Championship. That’s the aim.”
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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