Kevin Doets has revealed that his girlfriend, Bianca Rangel, is the driving force behind his recent surge in form. The Dutch star, who recently claimed his first PDC ranking title and reached his first European Tour final, says love has played a key role in his career turnaround. Speaking during the Premier League Darts broadcast on Viaplay, Doets was asked by presenter Bart Nolles what love can do for a darts player. "Apparently a lot," he replied with a laugh, pointing to his impressive performances in recent months.
Doets is currently closing in on the world's top 32, a key threshold within the PDC. He credits his relationship with Rangel for providing both emotional support and discipline. "It also depends on how she approaches it," he said. "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." But the support doesn't stop there. "Not just that, she's always nagging that I need to practice more," Doets added with a smile. "So I'm doing that now as well. When you've found a good love, it definitely helps."
Rangel's understanding of the darts world comes naturally — her father was active for years on the international darts scene and represented Brazil at various tournaments, including the World Cup of Darts. The couple 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 recalled. What began as a chance meeting has grown into a relationship he says is now a key factor in his sporting development.
Alongside his private life, Doets has also improved his professional setup. Since January, he has been living in a new house with his own practice room. "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. "I've now got a room where I can play darts without being distracted. I didn't have that in my old apartment."
The improved conditions are paying off. Doets recently won his first official PDC title and reached a TV final in the same week. "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." With his current form and growing self-belief, Doets appears ready to join the circuit's established names.
