The highly anticipated World Series of Darts Finals are set to ignite Amsterdam this weekend, marking the official start of the major darts season. Expect thrilling action from Thursday evening, featuring defending champion Michael van Gerwen and a host of top talents. Keep a close eye on the clash between in-form Ross Smith and rising star Kevin Doets, a match predicted to be a highlight with both players enjoying career-best performances and a perfectly balanced rivalry.
The major darts season is finally hitting its stride with the much-anticipated World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. Kicking off on Thursday evening, the tournament promises a weekend of high-stakes action and dramatic finishes.
Opening Night Highlights
The initial rounds feature some compelling matchups:
- Defending champion and top seed Michael van Gerwen will begin his campaign against Daryl Gurney, who steps in for Lourence Ilagan.
- Rising stars Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen face tough challenges against top-twenty opponents.
- An all-Premier League battle sees Josh Rock take on Stephen Bunting.
- Rob Cross makes his debut against Ryan Searle.
- Other intriguing encounters include Viktor Tingstrom vs. the struggling Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Karel Sedlacek vs. Kiwi number one Ben Robb.
The Match to Watch: Ross Smith vs. Kevin Doets
While the opening night is packed with talent, one particular clash stands out as potentially the most captivating: the encounter between two unseeded players, Ross Smith and Kevin Doets. Both athletes are currently playing some of the best darts of their careers, making this a truly unmissable match.
Ross ‘Smudger’ Smith: A Career-Best Run
Ross Smith arrives in Amsterdam in phenomenal form. He has recently secured his first two European Tour titles, including a victory in Budapest less than three weeks ago. This impressive streak was followed by reaching his fourth final of the season in Antwerp last weekend. Despite being the 2022 European Champion, there’s a strong consensus that Smith is playing better now than ever before.
- Yearly Average: An impressive 95.67.
- Checkout Rate: An incredible 40.95%.
- Legs Won on Throw: Nearly 70%.
- Legs Won Against Throw: 44%.
Smith qualified for this event through his participation in the Australian and New Zealand Darts Masters. While his debut there didn’t go as planned, he has clearly found his rhythm since, setting the stage for a formidable challenge.
Kevin ‘Hawkeye’ Doets: Breaking New Ground
Playing in his home nation, Kevin Doets is also enjoying a breakthrough year this year. He clinched his very first ProTour Title in May and reached his first major stage final in Graz the same week, narrowly losing to Josh Rock. “Hawkeye” has consistently delivered high-scoring performances, including multiple 100+ averages.
- Notable Performance: A stunning 117.12 average in a 6-0 whitewash of Jonas Masalin in Göttingen.
- Yearly Average: A very close 95.56, almost identical to Smith’s.
- Checkout Rate (last 12 months): 39.72%.
Doets earned his spot by successfully navigating the Tour Card Holder Qualifier, defeating Olde Kalter, Evans, Gilding, and Kuivenhoven along the way.
Head-to-Head: A Perfectly Balanced Rivalry
The history between Smith and Doets adds another layer of intrigue to their upcoming match. They have met eight times, with their head-to-head record standing perfectly level. Their encounters this year are also tied at one win each.
- Early Encounters (2022-2024): Doets won their first three meetings, all in floor events.
- Smith’s Reversal (2024-2025): Smith returned the favor with three consecutive wins in similar fashion.
Their This Year’s Battles:
The two players have already clashed twice this year, each match a testament to their current form:
First Meeting (May, Players Championship):
- Doets secured a dominant 6-2 victory in a Players Championship Last 16 encounter.
- He averaged an impressive 106.55.
- Doets went on to reach the semi-finals, consistently posting 100+ averages in four of his six games before losing to Jermaine Wattimena.
Second Meeting (Winter Gardens, Stage Debut):
- This was their first meeting on a major stage.
- Smith emerged victorious with a 10-6 win.
- Despite the loss, Doets performed exceptionally well on his stage debut, averaging 104.19.
- Smith himself averaged 100.55, demonstrating his ability to win crucial moments.
- Smith then received a bye due to Cameron Menzies’ withdrawal before being eliminated by Gerwyn Price in the Quarter-Finals.
With both Ross Smith and Kevin Doets playing arguably the best darts of their careers, this match promises to be a thrilling spectacle. They are both eager to make a significant impact at the World Series of Darts Finals, and their clash is undoubtedly one to watch.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
