DOBEY TARGETS MAJOR GLORY AFTER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP HEARTBREAK

CHRIS DOBEY says his World Championship heartbreak against Rob Cross turned him into a stronger and hungrier player.

The world No13 admits he has never forgotten blowing a 4-0 lead after feeling he had a genuine chance of lifting the trophy at Alexandra Palace.

Dobey, 36, looked destined to reach the semi-final back in 2024 but Cross produced a stunning fightback to win 5-4 in North London.

He said: “I think early doors it was just experience. I think a few years ago when I lost that game against Rob from 4-0 up, I thought then that was the first time I ever felt I was going to win the World Championship.

“I felt I was the best player in the tournament at the time. I was playing the best out of everybody.

“I did firmly believe I could go on and win it. It wasn’t the fact that I played rubbish. He just turned an average performance into a brilliant performance.

“He came back strong. From then, I have grown stronger and hungrier. I am not going to let that happen again.”

Hollywood believes those painful lessons have made him more battle-hardened as he looks to end his wait for another major trophy since his 2023 Masters triumph.

He added: “I feel it is all about judgement and timing. There is something about the Ally Pally stage that gets me more excited and up for it.

“It is the one that you want to do well in.

“It has happened a couple of times against Rob. It was at the Matchplay the first time I had an 8-2 lead and lost the match.

“I played well and put myself in those positions. If you keep putting yourself in positions like that, it is not always going to go the other way.

“I think you have to build on performances like that and not let it get you down. You learn from your mistakes and the little things you have done in the past.

“It is one of the strong points in my game now. I know where I went wrong and what happened. We move on.

“I played well in the World Championship last year and was on the losing side to Andrew Gilding after a great performance.

“As long as I am playing well and giving myself chances, that is all that matters.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning