"She’s always nagging that I need to practice more" — The power of love as Kevin Doets says girlfriend is secret weapon behind darting rise

In recent months, everything seems to have accelerated for Kevin Doets. The Dutch top darter is enjoying the best spell of his career and recently claimed his first PDC ranking title. He also reached his first European Tour final, putting himself firmly on the doorstep of the world’s elite. But according to Doets, the changes aren’t only on the sporting front. Privately, he feels better than ever — and that has everything to do with his new love, Bianca Rangel.

During the Premier League Darts broadcast on Viaplay, Doets was immediately hit with a striking question on Thursday evening. Presenter Bart Nolles asked what love can do for a darts player. Doets didn’t have to think long. “Apparently a lot,” he replied with a laugh. He was pointing directly to his impressive performances in recent months.

Doets is currently making strong strides at the highest level. Since the World Darts Championship in December, he seems to be playing with more confidence and stability. That has led not only to better results, but also to a rise in the world rankings.

The Dutchman is now closing in on the world’s top 32, a key threshold within the PDC. For many players, that means a new status on the professional circuit, with automatic spots at major tournaments and greater recognition within the darts community.

According to Doets, his relationship plays a bigger role in that than people might think. “It also depends on how she approaches it,” he said candidly during the interview. “Life as a professional is tough for me. I’m away from home a lot and now I have a woman who supports me in that.” That understanding and support make a big difference, he says, in the hectic life of a top athlete.

It doesn’t stop at emotional support, though. Rangel also keeps him sharp when it comes to discipline and training. “Not just that, she’s always nagging that I need to practice more,” Doets said with a smile. “So I’m doing that now as well. When you’ve found a good love, it definitely helps.”

That Rangel understands so well what a darter’s life entails is no coincidence. Her father was active for years on the international darts scene and represented Brazil at various tournaments, including the World Cup of Darts. She literally grew up in the circuit that now also shapes Doets’ daily life.

The two met during a Pro Tour event in Hildesheim, Germany. “Her father played the Challenge Tour there beforehand and she stayed an extra day to watch,” Doets said. What began as a chance meeting has grown into a relationship that he says is now a key factor in his sporting development.

Alongside the changes in his private life, Doets has also deliberately worked on his professional setup. Since January, he has been living in a new house, where he finally has his own practice room. That may sound like a detail, but for a top athlete it can make a world of difference.

“Since January I’ve been living in a new place with a good set-up,” he said. “I practice pretty much every day, flat out. Lots of practice hours these days.” His previous apartment lacked the calm and space to train optimally. Now he has a separate room where he can fully focus on his game. “I’ve now got a room where I can play darts without being distracted. I didn’t have that in my old apartment.”

Those improved conditions are clearly paying off. Not only did he recently win his first official PDC title, his consistent level is also turning heads on the circuit. Where Doets could be erratic in the past, he now seems much more stable and assured at the oche.

For the darter himself, it feels as if all the pieces are falling into place. “That first title was special,” he reflected. “But also making a TV final in the same week makes it extra special. Everything is going really well at the moment and now it’s all coming together.”

Within the darts world, talk is increasingly about the next step in his career. With his current form and growing self-belief, Doets appears ready to firmly join the circuit’s established names. And his success hasn’t come out of nowhere. Behind the scenes there’s more structure, more practice hours, and a more stable private life.