Kevin Doets, just shy of his 28th birthday, has clinched his first-ever Pro Tour title at Players Championship 13 in Hildesheim, Germany. In a gripping final, Doets overcame Luke Woodhouse, breaking his long-standing semi-final curse. The tournament also marked a significant comeback for Austria’s Mensur Suljovic, who reached a semi-final for the first time in nearly three years. A record 17 German players participated, adding to the excitement, with notable performances and early upsets from top seeds, including a spectacular nine-darter by Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Kevin Doets’ Journey to Darts Glory
Kevin Doets, known as “Hawk Eye,” finally shattered his Pro Tour semi-final jinx, securing his maiden title just a day before his 28th birthday. His path to victory was marked by consistently strong performances:
- He started with a convincing 6-4 win against Mervyn King.
- Followed by a 6-3 victory over Darryl Pilgrim.
- He then dispatched fellow countryman Jermaine Wattimena 6-3, showcasing a brilliant 105-point average.
- In the quarter-finals, Doets elevated his game further, beating Rob Owen 6-2.
- The semi-final saw him dominate Maik Kuivenhoven with a decisive 7-1 win, paving his way to the final.
The final against Luke Woodhouse was a true test of nerve. Doets began with an impressive 11-darter but soon found himself trailing 1-3. Unfazed, he fought back, leveling the score at 4-4. A crucial moment came when he snatched the lead with another 11-darter, followed by a game-changing 105 checkout for a vital break. Doets then stormed ahead, hitting a 12-darter including a stunning 128 finish to extend his lead to 7-4. Despite missing a few match darts, he ultimately sealed the 8-5 victory by hitting the double in the subsequent leg, creating an unforgettable early birthday celebration.
Luke Woodhouse’s Valiant Effort
Despite a formidable run to the final, Luke “Woody” Woodhouse experienced the bitter taste of defeat in his third Pro Tour final, still seeking that elusive title. Woodhouse was in exceptional form throughout the day, dominating opponents such as Mike De Decker and Krzysztof Ratajski. Even former major winner Chris Dobey couldn’t halt his progress in the quarter-finals. His impressive streak, however, came to an end against the determined Kevin Doets in the championship match.
German and DACH Region Performances
Players Championship 13 set a new record with 17 German players participating on home soil. While many showed promise, the standout from the DACH region was Austria’s Mensur Suljovic, who reached his first semi-final in nearly three years.
Mensur Suljovic’s Resurgent Run:
- He began with a solid 6-4 win over Ian White.
- Followed by a tense 6-5 victory against Niels Zonneveld, sealed with a clinical 12-darter.
- A commanding performance saw him defeat Thibault Tricole 6-1.
- In the Last 16, Suljovic delivered a stunning 6-0 whitewash against Ritchie Edhouse, averaging an impressive 102.
- He secured his semi-final spot with a hard-fought 6-4 win over Darius Labanauskas, featuring a crucial 138 checkout.
- His excellent run concluded in the semi-finals, where he lost 7-2 to Luke Woodhouse.
German Players’ Highlights:
- Martin Schindler (“The Wall”) reached the third round (Board Final), securing prize money. He had a tight 6-5 win over Samuel Price and beat Cristo Reyes 6-3. However, he fell 1-6 to Dave Chisnall after struggling with crucial doubles.
- Niko Springer also made it to the third round, impressively beating Martin Lukeman 6-3 and then securing a decider victory against Lewis Pride 6-5 with a triple-digit average. His run ended with a 4-6 loss to Marvin van Velzen.
- Other German players like Arno Merk, Daniel Klose, Pascal Rupprecht, Kai Gotthardt, Maximilian Czerwinski, and Leon Weber showed flashes of brilliance, often progressing to the second round before facing tough opposition.
- A notable upset saw Ricardo Pietreczko (“Pikachu”) suffer an early exit, losing 4-6 to fellow German Kai Gotthardt with a sub-80 average.
- Gabriel Clemens (“The German Giant”) also experienced a disappointing first-round exit, losing 3-6 to Tommy Morris after failing to convert checkouts from a 3-1 lead.
Other Noteworthy Moments and Upsets
The absence of many top-ranked players created opportunities for others to shine:
- Career Bests and Strong Runs: Maik Kuivenhoven reached his third career semi-final. Rob Owen secured his first quarter-final of the year, while Darius Labanauskas also made it to the last eight after a lengthy absence. Tyler Thorpe, Marvin van Velzen, and Derek Coulson notably won their respective boards, reaching the Last 32.
- Big Names Stumble: Several prominent players faced early exits. Damon Heta and Gary Anderson (despite a 100+ average) both suffered first-round defeats. Major champions like Michael Smith, Peter Wright, Raymond van Barneveld, and Dimitri Van den Bergh also crashed out prematurely after subpar performances.
- Spectacular Darts: The tournament was highlighted by incredible individual moments. Dirk van Duijvenbode electrified the venue with a perfect nine-darter in his first-round match against Madars Razma. Additionally, Andrew Gilding produced a phenomenal 118 average in his third-round match, showcasing exceptional form.
Tournament Structure and Payouts
Players Championship 13 was part of the PDC Pro Tour series, held in Hildesheim, Germany. Matches were played as Best of 11 legs up to the semi-finals, with the semi-finals being Best of 13 legs, and the final contested over Best of 15 legs. The total prize fund for the event was £150,000.
The prize money breakdown was as follows:
- Winner: £15,000 (Kevin Doets)
- Runner-Up: £10,000 (Luke Woodhouse)
- Semi-Finalists: £6,500
- Quarter-Finalists: £4,000
- Last 16: £3,000
- Last 32: £2,000
- Last 64: £1,250
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
