Kevin ‘Hawkeye’ Doets has continued his impressive run of form, securing a 6-4 victory over fellow Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde at the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen. This win sees Doets advance to the second round, building on his recent semi-final appearance on the Euro Tour and proving his status as a strong contender. He is set to face another Dutch opponent, Jermaine Wattimena, in the next stage.
Doets Dominates Dutch Derby in Sindelfingen
Kevin ‘Hawkeye’ Doets successfully navigated his first challenge at the European Darts Grand Prix on Friday afternoon, securing a 6-4 victory over fellow Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde. This win propels him into the second round of the prestigious Euro Tour event.
A Clash of Forms: Doets as the Favorite
Doets entered the match as the overwhelming favorite, a status bolstered by his impressive semi-final run at a Euro Tour event just two weeks ago in Munich. For Van der Velde, this marked his first Euro Tour participation of 2026, having earned his spot through the Tour Card Holder Qualifier. Adding to Doets’s confidence, he had already bested Van der Velde 6-3 in a Players Championship tournament earlier that week in Wigan.
Match Highlights: Early Dominance and a Comeback Scare
True to his favorite status, Doets wasted no time asserting his dominance. After holding his own throw, ‘Hawkeye’ came agonizingly close to a spectacular 170 checkout to break Van der Velde. Although he missed the bullseye, Van der Velde then failed to convert a crucial dart at double 20, allowing Doets to capitalize and secure an early 2-0 lead. Doets then had further chances to break again and potentially seal the match early, but some missed doubles allowed Van der Velde to claim his first leg of the contest.
The tension escalated when Doets missed a full hand of darts at double 18, offering Van der Velde a lifeline. Van der Velde seized the opportunity, breaking back to narrow the gap and inject new life into the match. However, Doets swiftly regained control, delivering two consecutive 13-dart legs to put himself just one leg away from victory. Van der Velde fought valiantly, winning two legs in a row to threaten a remarkable comeback. But it was Doets who ultimately sealed the deal with a composed 16-dart leg, closing out the match 6-4. This victory ensures Doets’s excellent form in 2026 continues its impressive run in Sindelfingen.
What’s Next for Doets?
Doets’s journey in Sindelfingen will continue on Saturday afternoon with another all-Dutch clash in the second round, where he will face Jermaine Wattimena. Earlier on Friday, Wessel Nijman also secured his spot in the second round. Unfortunately for Niels Zonneveld, the first round proved to be the end of his tournament.
Key Match Statistics:
- Kevin Doets:
- Average: 95.68
- Double Percentage: 33.33%
- Jurjen van der Velde:
- Average: 85.80
- Double Percentage: 36.36%
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
