“I want to be a regular in the Premier League" - Kevin Doets sets lofty goals after breakthrough 2026 continues in Graz

Although Josh Rock walked away with the top prize at the 2026 Austrian Darts Open on Sunday evening, Kevin Doets’ tournament was also one not to forget anytime soon.

Just six days after capturing his very first PDC ranking title at Players Championship 13, the Dutchman was back on the biggest stage. In the final of the Austrian Darts Open he ultimately went down 8-6 to a rampant Rock, but his impressive week still marked a new milestone in his career.

Doets began the Austrian Darts Open in particularly convincing fashion. In his opening match against compatriot Chris Landman he immediately showed how high his confidence was. With a tidy 6-3 win and barely two missed doubles, he booked his place in the next round without trouble.

He continued to impress on Saturday as well. Against World Championship semi-finalist Ryan Searle, Doets produced a very mature display. Thanks to an impressive 60 percent on his doubles, he won 6-2 again and booked his place for finals day in style. His strong run certainly didn’t end there. In the last 16, Doets saw off Ryan Joyce by the same scoreline, but it was his quarterfinal that drew plenty of admiration across the darts world. Against Luke Woodhouse, the Dutchman likely produced the best performance of the entire tournament.

Doets registered a dizzying average of 112.31 and combined it with spectacular finishes. Midway through the match he hit a phenomenal 170 checkout, before sealing the contest with a classy 141 checkout. With a convincing 6-3 victory, he reached his second European Tour semi-final of the season.

He remained particularly efficient in the semi-final as well. Against former world champion Rob Cross, Doets hit more than half of his chances at a double. Thanks to that clinical finishing, he reached the first European Tour final of his career.

Awaiting him in that final, however, was an in-form Josh Rock. Despite an average well over a ton, Doets just couldn’t quite make the difference. The Dutchman hung in throughout and even battled back to 6-6, but in the end had to bow to the scoring power and finishing of his Northern Irish opponent.

Afterwards, Doets remained strikingly upbeat despite the disappointment of the lost final. “I was sweating so much [in the final] - my hair is wet!” laughed Doets. “He wouldn’t stop! Whatever I threw at him, he did better. He was the deserved winner today, although I felt like I had my chances. It was a great final, and let’s hope for more."

His performances in Graz earned him not only praise but also a big leap in the world rankings. Thanks to his runner-up spot, Doets climbs to 33rd in the world, just £250 shy of a place in the top 32.

That surge clearly leaves him hungry for more. The ambitious Dutchman spoke openly about his future goals afterwards. “I want to be a regular in the Premier League and become a top eight, top four player in the world, or World Champion one day - that’s everyone’s goal. We keep fighting for it.”

With his recent ProTour title and an impressive European Tour final, Doets looks ready to break through for good at the very top of world darts.