"I’ve only got myself to blame": Frustration for Kevin Doets after Humphries Ally Pally defeat

Kevin Doets saw his World Championship campaign end in the fourth round. The Dutchman started promisingly against Luke Humphries, but couldn’t maintain his level and ultimately lost 4-1 to the world number two. Afterward, Doets spoke candidly on Viaplay about his display and the prevailing disappointment.

The match initially seemed to have all the ingredients for an upset. Doets played almost flawlessly in the opening set and took the lead with authority. According to him, that first set even felt like the highlight of the night. “After the first set I simply expected a lot from myself,” he reflected. “I couldn’t carry it on.”

While Doets played with freedom early on, the pattern visibly shifted after the first interval. Humphries seized control and never allowed a way back into the match. Doets noticed he had completely lost his rhythm. “After the break it was a lot of searching, and it just kept going. The entire match.”

Meanwhile, the Englishman remained extremely steady. Errors were rare and every chance was taken. That made it even harder for Doets to regain a foothold in the contest.

Even when Humphries pulled away to a 3-1 lead and another break followed, Doets still didn’t throw in the towel. The belief was still there, but the desired game never materialized. “I still had the hope to start throwing better. But it didn’t happen.”

According to Viaplay reporter Arjan van der Giessen, the difference was also that Humphries never switched off at any moment. Doets could only accept that verdict. “You can expect that against a Humphries. I’ve only got myself to blame, I start very well, and after that I was just very weak.”

Although the elimination stung, Doets is mindful of the bigger picture. For the second year running he reached the last sixteen at the World Darts Championship, an achievement that further strengthened his position in the world rankings. The Dutchman, who lives in Sweden, has climbed to 38th thanks to his results.