Jermaine Wattimena kicked off his European Darts Grand Prix campaign with a confident 6-3 victory over Kevin Doets on Saturday afternoon in Sindelfingen, posting a near-98 average and a 50 percent checkout rate. In post-match comments to Dartsnews.com, Wattimena expressed his satisfaction, stating, "Of course I'm happy. I'm always happy to win, to be honest." The win held personal significance, marking his return to the Euro Tour stage after about 11 years since his debut.
Reflecting on the broader landscape, Wattimena highlighted the strength of Dutch darts, noting, "Yeah, it's good. The Dutch players are doing really well and we're happy with that." He pointed to the depth emerging, adding, "Michael is on the way, Kevin is on the way, Wessel is almost there, I'm there, Gian is playing amazing. We've got a lot of good players." He even speculated that if current trends continue, the Netherlands could have five or six players in the top 16 within one or two years.
With rankings tightening, Wattimena emphasized his focus on maintaining his position, saying, "I told my family I'm just inside the top 16. With players close behind, you need a good run, but it's good for Dutch darts." He backed his resilience, adding, "If I drop out, I'll be back." Looking ahead to the rest of the 2026 season, his goals are straightforward: "Stay in the top 16. That's where you want to be. And have some good runs."
A potential clash with compatriot Michael van Gerwen looms, but Wattimena downplayed any added pressure, remarking, "I've known Michael for more than 24 years, so it's not that special. But I do like playing him on stage again, because it's been a long time." When asked about his record against van Gerwen, he remained unfazed, saying, "No, I didn't even know that. I know I've beaten him before, but every day is a new day, every week is a new week." With confidence returning, Wattimena moves forward with belief in his game and an awareness of the growing strength in Dutch darts.
