Kevin Doets claimed his maiden PDC rating title as he beat Luke Woodhouse 8-5 within the last of Gamers Championship 13 in Hildesheim.
The Dutchman featured in back-to-back semi-finals throughout final week’s ProTour double-header, however he broke by means of that barrier at Halle 39 earlier than denying Woodhouse in Monday’s showpiece.
The pair had been the 2 highest-ranked gamers with no PDC title to their identify, and it regarded like it could be Woodhouse to buck that pattern after establishing a 4-2 lead.
Nevertheless, Doets burst into life with a two-dart 100 checkout in leg seven – sparking a five-leg sequence which noticed him take management of the competition.
The 27-year-old adopted up his second 11-darter by changing consecutive 105 and 128 finishes to steer 7-4, earlier than defying some late nerves to triumph along with his ninth match dart.
“Finally! What a relief,” mentioned Doets, who averaged 100.61 to say the £15,000 prime prize.
“My confidence is rising. I’ve been taking part in fairly properly currently, and I confirmed it once more right now.
“I was a bit nervous in the beginning of the final, but as soon as I got into it, I played great.”
Doets added: “The next goal for me is to get into the top 16 of the world and win a major Players Championship 13: Kevin Doets wins maiden PDC ranking title as Michael van Gerwen exits early in Hildesheim, because I have shown everyone that I have the game to do it.”
Earlier within the day, Dirk van Duijvenbode added one other nine-dart end to his rising haul, producing perfection in his opening spherical tie in opposition to Madars Razma.
Michael van Gerwen – the solitary Premier League star in motion – suffered a disappointingly early exit, being crushed by Krzysztof Ratajski in spherical three.
2026 Gamers Championship 13: Outcomes
Final 16
Andrew Gilding 6-3 Viktor Tingstrom
Maik Kuivenhoven 6-4 Marvin van Velzen
Rob Owen 6-2 Tyler Thorpe
Kevin Doets 6-3 Jermaine Wattimena
Chris Dobey 6-1 Dave Chisnall
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
Darius Labanauskas 6-2 Derek Coulson
Mensur Suljovic 6-0 Ritchie Edhouse
Quarter-finals
Maik Kuivenhoven 6-4 Andrew Gilding
Kevin Doets 6-2 Rob Owen
Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Chris Dobey
Mensur Suljovic 6-4 Darius Labanauskas
Semi-finals
Kevin Doets 7-1 Maik Kuivenhoven
Luke Woodhouse 7-2 Mensur Suljovic
Ultimate
Kevin Doets 8-5 Luke Woodhouse
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