DOBEY: “I WAS LITERALLY SHAKING”

By Aaron Nijjar

CHRIS DOBEY has revealed his most nerve-racking match on the oche was against Gerwyn Price.

‘Hollywood’ beat the ‘The Iceman’ 5-3 this year in the quarter-final of the World Championship.

Despite missing five match darts, the Bedlington battler came from two sets down and prevailed with an average of 95.83.

The former Masters winner admitted to the Tops and Tales podcast that he felt huge pressure during the match.

He said: “Yeah, honestly, God, I was literally shaking like a leaf. I’ve never felt like that.

“Once I got the job done, that was it. And it all changed. The Gerwyn Price one, if I had lost from that position, then there were questions.”

World No.8 Dobey would have had memories of his collapse exactly 12 months to the day when he was 4-0 up against Rob Cross but some contrived to lose 5-4.

That is considered the biggest turnaround in the history of the major.

While some may have speculated that Dobey had crumbled under pressure in past encounters, particularly in his match against ‘Voltage’, he was quick to set the record straight.

He said: “I think the game against Rob Cross, I’ve came out, I would admit if I had bottled it.

“And my game didn’t really dip in that game against Rob. He had nothing to lose at 4-0.

“He just turned up, he went on a spell where he was untouchable for four or five sets.

“I missed a couple of darts, one at the bull, and maybe another dart at the double. But yeah, I did nothing wrong.

“I still averaged 100, 101 in that game. And yeah, it was a hard one to take, but I can’t say I bottled that one.”

Dobey remains focused on his ultimate goal which is winning a World title.

The 34-year-old is on track to achieve his dream after reaching his first semi-final at Ally Pally this year.

He said: “If I could win the world title, then I’ve accomplished what everyone plays for.”

Six-time Players Championship winner Dobey also revealed what his alternative career path would have been had he not pursued professional darts.

He admitted: “I used to work on the roads as a traffic operative.

“So, putting the signs on the motorways and the cones out and getting called left, right and centre for closing the road.”

The Premier League returns tomorrow [Thursday] and Luke Littler will face Dobey in Brighton.

Image by Taylor Lanning.