Doets shows ruthless streak to dump idol Van Gerwen

KEVIN DOETS admits he was merciless in piling more misery onto Michael van Gerwen and it was his idol who taught him to be that way.

Hawkeye grabbed a sensational win over his illustrious countryman at the European Championships to move into the last 16 in Dortmund.

It was another bitter pill for toiling van Gerwen to swallow, but Doets says the ruthlessness he has in his game now came from the teachings of the likes of him.

Doets says all the current crop of young Dutch guns owe Raymond van Barneveld and MVG plenty for forging the path that they now follow in the cut-throat, global game.

But, at the same time, the characteristics which made van Gerwen the fearless man to beat during his halcyon days came back to bite him as he was beaten 6-3 to extend a frustrating run of form.

Doets explained: "I think that Dutch darts is in a great place and it's basically all thanks to Raymond and Michael. So we have a lot to thank them for. They are your idols, but, eventually, if you want to be the best, you have to beat your idols.

"I think in the Top 32 right now there's maybe eight or nine Dutch players. It's a lot and the rivalry between us is also very big. I don't know what it is between the Dutch players, but we really hate losing to each other. That's the worst thing ever."

Doets expanded on finding that ruthless streak and added: "I've been struggling with that [being ruthless] since when I can remember, but I feel like my game has been going so well that, lately, it doesn't really matter who I am playing anymore, I am going to play my game.

"A lot of things that I am doing right now I have learned from Michael and Raymond and everyone before me because you learn from the people that were there before you. So I have a lot to thank from everyone that was playing before me, but I am also not going to have mercy because they taught me that."