Kist qualified for the 2012 BDO World Championship via the International Playoffs. Kist defeated compatriot Jan Dekker 3-2 in the first round. He then defeated Belgium's Geert De Vos in the second round by a scoreline of 4-2. Kist followed this with a 5-1 quarter-final victory over good friend Alan Norris. Kist then recovered from 5-3 down in the semi-final against two-time champion Ted Hankey, who had one dart at bullseye to win the match 6-5, to reach the final. He played popular crowd favourite Tony O'Shea, who was making his second Lakeside final. Kist went into the break 4-2 up, and later went 6-2 ahead, but O'Shea mounted a comeback taking the next three sets. However, Kist held his nerve to record a 7-5 win and became the BDO World Champion, the first Dutchman and first qualifier to lift the title since Jelle Klaasen in 2006.