Chris Dobey defeats William O’Connor to triumph at PDC Players Championship 33
Chris Dobey edged out William O’Connor 8–6 to seal his third PDC Players Championship title of the season, triumphing in the 33rd event at Robin Tennis Park Centre in Wigan.
Dobey showcased his exemplary ability to dig deep when it mattered most in the final. With the affair level at 6–6, and against the throw in the 13th leg, he produced a crucial 171 to leave double 12, which he pinned with his first dart to break throw before returning to seal the title with a 15-dart leg. O’Connor missed out on his first floor event title of the year, despite delivering his best darts at the final hurdle.
The Bedlington-born star enjoyed a comfortable run on the oche en route to the final, opening his campaign with a 6–1 victory over Greg Ritchie while averaging just shy of a ton.
His round two and three opponents were Robert Owen and Jeffrey de Graaf, but neither posed a serious threat as Dobey secured convincing 6–2 victories in both matches. Notably, his round three win against the Swede was especially impressive, featuring an exceptional 108.76 average and a 10-darter to close out the game.
In his Last 16 clash with Damon Heta, ‘Hollywood’ replicated his earlier form, averaging a dangerous 107.55 against his rival. Remarkably, his first two legs were a 10-darter and an 11-darter, as if no interval had occurred between the matches, effectively playing three competitive legs in under four visits.
Dobey’s performance improved even further as he reached another quarter-final, this time against Nathan Aspinall. While Aspinall struggled to find his rhythm, averaging a lacklustre 91.36, Dobey delivered a monstrous 111.29, which turned out to be his best performance of the day.
Admittedly, Dobey’s performance dipped to 94.67 in the semi-finals against Dutchman Wessel Nijman, but his ability to close out legs when opportunities arose saw him dominate with a 7–2 scoreline. Nijman struggled to convert on the outer ring in multiple legs, while Dobey, characteristically, held his nerve to finish each leg with two or three attempts in hand.
The 35-year-old’s victory lifts him to the number six seed ahead of November’s Players Championship Finals, earning him the £15,000 winner’s prize in the process. What’s more, the former Masters winner has climbed to eighth in the world following Rob Cross’ first-round exit.
The final Players Championship event kicks off on Thursday, October 30, in Wigan, as the remaining 64 spots for the Players Championship Finals will be confirmed.
