In a dramatic twist at the PDC World Championship, Dutchman Kevin Doets delivered a stunning upset, defeating second-seeded Michael Smith in a closely fought second-round match at Alexandra Palace. The match was a rollercoaster of skill and tension, leaving fans in awe of the unexpected outcome.
A Night of High Drama at Alexandra Palace
The favorite for the match was Michael Smith, the 2023 champion, who was knocked out in a 3-2 defeat against world number 51, Kevin Doets. A real thriller, Doets sealed victory in the deciding set with a 6-4 scoreline, proving that he could hold his nerve. Smith couldn’t do enough to get past the determined Dutchman, even with checkouts of 123, 84, 94, and 76.
“This was the most stressful game of my life, and I’ve won it,” said an elated Doets, who celebrated his hard-fought triumph. The 26-year-old avenged his loss to Smith at the same stage last year, displaying remarkable resilience.
For Smith, this marked his earliest exit from the championship since 2020, a result that could see him fall out of the world’s top 10 rankings.
Other Highlights from the Championship
The tournament keeps on coming, with many great performances so far:
Scott Williams had a comeback win against German debutant Niko Springer, 3-1. It was quite an impressive performance for Williams with a sensational third set full of seven 180s to take him into a meeting with the 2018 champion, Rob Cross.
Callan Rydz averaged the highest first-round match played in the current format, with 96 participants: he defeated Romeo Grbavac 3-0 with 107.06 average. Next he will play against Martin Schindler.
Nick Kenny thrilled the crowd at 170 finish to win with a 3-0 match against American Stowe Buntz. Against five-time world champion, he will be playing the likes of Raymond Barneveld.
Additionally, Lok Yin Lee was on a great form in the hands-on game and took it home by winning nine continuous legs straight. He took a comfortable 3-1 victory over Chris Landman. He moves onto face Brendan Dolan.
What’s Next?
Next up, more thrilling match-ups, including the second round for Michael van Gerwin, which has all supporters talking. With the event taking a surprising twist while being full of brilliant performing, fans are going to see some of these memorable moments as the event unwinds.
