Kevin Doets produced a stunning performance to reach the second round of the European Darts Trophy, sweeping debutant Jonas Masalin 6-0 with a sensational average of 117.12. That mark is the highest average ever recorded in the history of the tournament and the fifth-highest average ever on the European Tour.
The Dutchman remained strikingly down-to-earth after the match, telling interviewers, "Yes, it was good, right? I don't really know what happened. I just felt very comfortable." Doets said he only truly grasped how well he was playing when he pulled out to a 5-0 lead. "I think when I went 5–0 up. That's when I thought, 'Damn, I'm playing well,'" he explained. "At the start I was already averaging around 130 or something like that, and I was thinking, 'Wow, I'm playing really well.'"
Doets also reflected on his opponent's tough debut, saying with a smile, "Yes… I'm sorry, Jonas. Sorry," when told Masalin was making his first European Tour appearance. In the second round, Doets will face Cam Crabtree, after Jonny Clayton withdrew due to an injury sustained the day before while winning the sixth match night of the Premier League.
Despite his record-breaking display, Doets stayed realistic about his next match. "The reason I got so comfortable today was because he missed those darts for 1–1. That helped me relax a bit. I don't expect Cam to miss those chances tomorrow," he stated. However, the Dutchman is brimming with confidence, adding, "When I feel this comfortable and play like this, I believe I can win anything. I'm in a really good place right now. I'm very confident, and I think I'm going to win tomorrow as well."
