"It’s not just about hoping to qualify, it’s the fact that you’ve got one less day of playing": Kevin Doets relishing not playing European Tour qualifiers anymore

For Kevin Doets, the hard work of recent years is finally starting to visibly pay off. The Dutchman is in top form, climbing the PDC Order of Merit at lightning speed, and appears well on his way to making his debut at some of the biggest televised tournaments on the PDC calendar. Following his recent ProTour title, there is now a strong sense of relief and confidence surrounding “Hawkeye.”

One of the biggest changes for Doets, who recently claimed his first PDC ranking title, may well be the fact that he is, for the time being, free from the exhausting Euro Tour qualifiers. For many players, those qualification days create extra mental and physical strain on top of an already packed schedule. For Doets, it feels like a huge relief not having to worry about them anymore.

"It’s such a relief because it’s not just about hoping to qualify. It’s the fact that you’ve got one less day of playing. It’s not only wanting to play the EuroTour, it’s also the stress that comes with playing the qualifiers," he said on the Weekly Dartscast.

Doets’ current position in the rankings is becoming increasingly important. Thanks to his consistent floor performances, he has firmly put himself in contention for the year’s biggest majors.

Being on these European Tours as a result seriously helps that charge. "They’re very important for the rankings and where I am now in the rankings just opens so many doors for all the majors, the top 32, and maybe even better than that. Yeah, I’m just in a very good place right now."

Alongside his recent title, he also reached a Euro Tour final and recorded several other strong floor results. As a result, qualification for both the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix now appears to be within touching distance. "I’m pretty sure I’ve already qualified for both the Matchplay and the Grand Prix, especially now after my win on Monday. I’m basically in the top five for both on the ProTour, I guess."

That prospect means even more to the Dutchman because he previously missed out on the World Matchplay in particularly painful fashion.

"It feels really good because two years ago I missed out on the Matchplay by one spot. James Wade got spot 16 and I was spot 17, so that was a bit of a blow."

That is exactly why the current situation feels like confirmation for Doets that he is taking the right steps in his career. Ever since earning his PDC Tour Card, he has dreamed of competing in the big televised tournaments, where not only the prize money but also the attention and prestige are much greater than on the floor circuit.

“These are the moments you dream of as a player when you win your Tour Card,” he said. “Now it’s finally really happening.”

With his current form, Doets appears increasingly prepared for that moment. The Dutchman looks calmer at the oche, radiates more confidence, and is clearly benefiting from the experience he has built up over recent years.

On top of that, he is currently playing with a great deal of freedom. The pressure of qualifiers is easing, his ranking is rising, and his belief in his own ability is growing with every strong performance. That makes Doets a player who could very well cause a few surprises heading into the second half of the season.