“If I keep playing like this, I’m confident I’ll win my first title this year” – Kevin Doets wants to confirm superb form with maiden PDC success

Kevin Doets heads into the UK Open with confidence. The Dutch darter, who has lived in Sweden for years, reflects on his strongest start to a season and believes his first title is within reach this year.

According to Doets, the results may not yet fully show on the honors list, but his performances prove he is on the right track. “This is definitely the best start to a year I’ve ever had,” he tells Viaplay. “Two quarter-finals so far. I’m throwing really well. The luck just hasn’t quite been on my side yet. But if I keep playing like this, I’m confident I’ll win my first title this year.”

The fact that results haven’t fully translated into trophies yet is mainly due to the opponents he meets at crucial moments, says Doets. For instance, he ran into a rampant Gerwyn Price at a Players Championship.

“I throw a 102 average in a quarter-final… and he throws 108 or 109 or something. But the day before that I averaged 109 myself—and I lost that one too, to Chris Dobey. Yeah, it happens.”

Doets’ season began not only with darts, but also with a special trip. Early this year he traveled to Brazil, a completely new destination for him. “It was the first time in my life I’d been outside Europe. It was also the first time I’d taken a flight longer than four hours, so that was pretty cool. But I definitely want to go back again—that’s already in the plans."

The trip lasted only a few days, as Doets tries to split his time between darts and his family. “I was only there for five days. I can’t stay away too long—I also have a son here in Sweden. So we try to plan things week by week."

Although Doets is Dutch, Sweden now feels like home. The darter has lived there for six years and speaks fluent Swedish. “I do feel a bit Swedish—but I’m still more Dutch. I speak the language fluently now and I’ve been here for six years, so it really feels like home.”

According to Doets, darts life in Sweden also differs from the Netherlands. The number of players is significantly lower, which makes the community smaller and tighter. “here it’s just a very close group of friends, and I really like that."

Because of his connection to the country, it’s even conceivable that Doets could represent Sweden at the World Cup of Darts in the future. He has not ruled out that possibility before.

“Of course I’d prefer to play for the Netherlands—that’s the country where I was born and raised. But I also have to think financially. There’s a lot of money involved in the World Cup. If I can’t make it with the Netherlands but I have the chance to earn money through Sweden, then I have to take that opportunity.”

Doets adds that playing the World Cup offers valuable stage experience. “Plus it’s extra stage experience—another tournament with the best players in the world. So for me that wouldn’t be a difficult choice."

On the big stages, Doets often notices his game growing as the match progresses. That was evident in his World Championship clash with Nathan Aspinall. “At the start it’s difficult, because you know you have to perform immediately against players like that. I’m someone who grows into the match.”

According to Doets, one moment can make the difference. “I just need one or two moments in the match where my confidence rises, and after that it’s hard to stop me."

In such matches he sometimes even experiences a kind of tunnel vision. “Very often after matches I can’t even remember the final moments, because I’m so focused that my brain basically switches off.”