Another Ally Pally clascic. Another Dutch darting star comes of age. Kevin Doets – the surname pronounced the same way some people pronounce Deutz tractors – just about having enough horsepower to outrun the Bull(y) Boy, Michael Smith.
The only thing reducing the seismic nature of the world No. 2 being catapulted out of the competition prior to Christmas is that it very nearly happened this time last year.
Moreover, in possibly the most fitting tribute to the man from Holland there could be, it most certainly wasn’t a case of the St Helen’s man playing poorly. Rather, simply in this instance, his plucky opponent converted the chances he coughed up a year ago. Eventually.
For a while though, it appeared the tale of the Dutch boy putting his finger in the dyke was going to get another run out. Simply because, when the burly bearded board basher hauled himself out of a quagmire with pressure cooker clinchers of 88 and 94 to send the match to extra time.
That being the scenario whereby a player must win the ‘over time’ by two clear legs. Though even that took a while to manifest as firstly Doets appeared to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas past when missing match darts on two seperate occasions.
Third time did indeed prove to be the charm, however, when, after a bit of around the house and mind the dresser, the underdog pinned double 5 and consigned the Bully Boy to the departure lounge.
Doubtless, there will be some, maybe many, who will at least think their chances of beginning 2025 as custodians of the Sid Waddell trophy have increased considerably with the bull put out to pasture.
Mind you, if they bought his conqueror as a handy conveyance further into the tournament, they’d have a bloody bad bargain.
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