DAZZLING DOBEY CLINCHES PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 17!
17/06/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
CHRIS DOBEY has won the Players Championship 17 after beating Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-7 in the final.
‘Hollywood’ secured a second ProTour title of the year and the SEVENTH of his career.
Dobey appeared on course for a routine win over Van Duijvenbode when establishing a 7-3 lead in the final, helped by a four-leg burst.
However, the Dutchman responded with his own four-leg run to take the showpiece into a deciding leg, leaving 55 after just 12 darts.
However, a 70 checkout got Dobey over the line as he backed up his recent sixth-placed finish in the Premier League with a piece of silverware.
Former Masters champ Dobey heaped praise on Van Duijvenbode following their thrilling contest and revealed he was delighted to win another event.
He said: “Dirk’s scoring power is unbelievable, [he’s] probably up there with one of the best scoring players in the world, I had to dig in!
“Yeah I am delighted. They are all hard to win but just to win one tournament is an achievement.
“To win seven ProTour events I am buzzing.
“I want to be with the top boys to give myself more chances of getting to the top.
“I will be here all week and it’s pocket money for Vegas on Sunday!”
Bedlington ace Chris Dobey believes the standard on tour has skyrocketed — and insists that even with the absence of the two Lukes, this week’s trio of ProTour events will be no easier to win.
He added: “Even when they are here [Luke Humphries and Luke Littler] anybody can win them.
“There has been so many different winners now. This is my second of the year.
“I think the standard is too good.
“Everybody goes on about the two Lukes.
“They are fantastic but there are a lot of other good players here.
“And I am one of them.”
The 35-year-old is now looking to push on and claim more major titles to his growing trophy cabinet.
He admitted: “I just want to start doing this on tv. I need to bring my floor and tv games together.
“Then hopefully I can start pushing towards major tv titles and I will be happy but yeah I am picking up slowly.”
Dobey averaged a stellar 103.21 to beat Josh Rock 6-3 in the last 16 at the Mattioli Arena.
World No. 7 Dobey then hit 75 percent of his doubles to overcome James Wade 6-3 in the quarter-final.
Dobey chucked in five 180s to triumph 7-5 against Gian van Veen in the semi-final.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
