DOETS OVERCOMES PERSONAL STRUGGLES TO STUN ASPINALL

KEVIN DOETS overcame a challenging year and personal struggles to pull off a stunning upset victory against Nathan Aspinall. 

World No41 Doets defeated ‘The Asp’ 4-3 in a thrilling contest that saw 23 maximums hit between the two players.

The Dutchman says he has battled private issues away from the oche which threatened to derail his season. 

But Doets refused to let his problems define him as he set up a fourth-round clash with Luke Humphries at the World Championship. 

He said: “That was insane! I started off rough. I was lucky to be 2-2, but then I should have been 3-2 up. He hit the 170 to go 3-2 up, but after that I was just on fire, I couldn’t miss any more. 

“This is what you dream of. This is my second year in a row in the last-16 and I want to go even further. 

“If I can get focused I can go really far. This year has been a bit of a disappointment.  

“I have had some personal problems but they don’t matter anymore. I just feel confident and great. 

“Luke is the world No2 now but in my mind he is the world No1 and he has been for ages. 

“When I started playing darts he was the one that was winning everything. I am looking forward to that a lot and I really want to beat him on this stage.” 

Doets previously revealed that his split from his partner had pushed darts to the back burner this year. 

‘Hawkeye’ admitted that separating from his son’s mother last December had made it difficult for him to balance life and his sport. 

He explained: “I haven’t been training at home much. My son’s mother and I broke up last December, and I just haven’t had the time to practise. 

“When I’m in Germany, I’m with my son and I don’t have time to train.   

“But now he’s started school, and from next week I’ll finally have more time to practise. That’s my explanation for not being at my best.”

Doets reached six quarter-finals on the ProTour but has failed to make a deep run on the major stage this campaign.

Image by Taylor Lanning.