Kevin Doets advanced to the next round of the European Darts Grand Prix with a hard-fought 6-3 win over fellow Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde, posting an average around 95. Speaking to DartsNews, Doets reflected on his performance: "I think I was a bit up and down. I had really good moments and some less good moments, but overall I'm pretty satisfied. I think it was around a 95 average, and a 6-3 win against a good player like that, I'm happy." He noted the difference between stage and floor games, having beaten van der Velde days earlier on the floor with a higher average, but emphasized focusing on his own game regardless of setting.
Doets highlighted a key learning experience from reaching his first semi-final on a long matchday earlier in the season in Munich, describing it as "tiring" and "very tough." He learned to better manage his time between matches, stating, "You really need to schedule your time well and that was the only thing I could have done better. I'm going to try to do that better this weekend." He plans to adjust by practicing less and taking more time to relax and eat if he progresses far again.
With a strong start to the season, including a recent floor quarter-final, Doets has set a clear ambition for the year. He declared, "If I don't win a title this year, I'm not satisfied, because the way I'm playing, even my B game right now is good. I feel confident, I feel ready for a title, and that's what I'm aiming for." He maintains a match-by-match focus, saying, "I don't look that far ahead. It's game by game. I'm there to win my game, play my own game, and I don't care what country you're from."
Next up, Doets faces close friend Jermaine Wattimena in the second round. He admitted, "I'd like to say no, but I guess it does. It's harder to play close friends," but added, "At the same time, I'm in a really good place and I still think I'm going to play really well." His grounded approach and growing confidence suggest he is poised to take the next step in his career.
