Chisnall defies Nine Dart Dobey to win yet another Pro Tour title

How he did it…

Dave Chisnall solidified his Number 1 ranking in fabulous fashion on Wednesday evening, beating Chris Dobey 8-4 to pick up his 4th title of 2024.

The newly crowned Flanders Darts Trophy champion kicked his day off with a dominant win over Callan Rydz, who was part of a viral moment involving James Wade yesterday.

Back to back 97 averages against Slevin and Sparidaans saw Chisnall into the Last 16 where he beat an on-form Madars Razma to reach the Quarters yet again with a remarkable performance.

His best performance of the day came against Mervyn King in the next tie, Chisnall averaging a mighty 108.72 to dispatch the struggling veteran.

A surprise opponent in Stephen Burton was waiting for Chizz in the Semi-Final and despite a close game throughout, Dave Chisnall held on to reach his 50th Pro Tour Final.

9-Dart Dobey was looking to replicate the first leg of his Semi-Final, starting the game with 180, 140 before getting over the line to win the first leg. The match was tied at 3-3 after 6 legs with neither player performing at the level they can, the pair both averaging in the mid 80s.

The number 1 seed took that personally and reeled off 4 straight legs to make it 7-3 and to go one

away from his 2nd Players Championship triumph of the year. The St Helens slinger left himself on 100 for the title, pinning the treble 20 before getting a wicked deflection into the 1 segment, thwarting his chances in that visit. Dobey cleaned up the 66 to pinch the leg but it was a mere consolation as Dave Chisnall pinned Double 8 in leg 12 to win Players Championship 23 in Leicester.

Chisnall claims his second Players Championship title of the year.

Elsewhere…

Despite losing in the final, it was Chris Dobey who produced perfection in his Semi-Final against Martin Schindler, pinning a 9 darter in the opening leg, much to the amusement of the German number one.

However, it was not the first perfect leg of the day as the struggling Adam Warner pinned the darting ‘holy grail’ in his second round clash against Jurjen Van Der Velde. A positive spark on what has been a tough few years for the former University of Sheffield player.

The race for the World Grand Prix was rather uneventful on Wednesday, with none of the chasing pack making up much ground on the 16 qualifiers despite Luke Woodhouse, positioned 16th, going out in the Last 128.

There were nine bagels served up in the Last 128 with nine 6-0 drubbings, one of which was the injured Ricardo Pietreczko who averaged just 68. Vincent Van Der Voort was the man who sent him packing.

Chris Dobey hit a 9 dart leg in his clash against Martin Schindler in PC23.

 

2024 Players Championship 23

Mattioli Arena, Leicester

Last 16

Dave Chisnall 6-5 Madars Razma

Mervyn King 6-3 Luke Humphries

Damon Heta 6-3 Ian White

Stephen Burton 6-5 Rob Cross

Martin Lukeman 6-5 Wessel Nijman

Martin Schindler 6-4 Lee Evans

Jonny Clayton 6-2 Gary Anderson

Chris Dobey 6-1 Mike De Decker

Quarter-Final

Dave Chisnall 6-2 Mervyn King

Stephen Burton 6-5 Damon Heta

Martin Schindler 6-3 Martin Lukeman

Chris Dobey 6-5 Jonny Clayton

Semi-Final

Dave Chisnall 7-4 Stephen Burton

Chris Dobey 7-2 Martin Schindler

Final

Dave Chisnall 8-4 Chris Dobey