Mervyn King stuns Nathan Aspinall as Bunting, Dobey & Adrian Lewis light up Bolton on road to 2026 PDC World Darts Championship
MODUSFriday, 28 November 2025 at 12:30
A lively crowd in Bolton were treated to a sharp, fast-moving night of exhibition darts on Thursday as five well-known names delivered a clean run of matches for MODUS — and one result in particular stood out with the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship now looming.
King edges Aspinall in the highlight of the night
The pick of the action came when Mervyn King claimed a 3–2 win over Nathan Aspinall.
Aspinall pushed throughout, but King held firm at key moments to take the match and deliver the evening’s most eye-catching result. With his World Championship return approaching, it was an encouraging sign of sharpness from the veteran.
In his first appearance at the Alexandra Palace since losing to Rob Cross at the 2023 edition, King has been handed a meeting with Ian White in the draw for the opening round.
Dobey takes two wins — including the show-closer
Chris Dobey opened the programme with a 3–1 victory over Adrian Lewis, then returned at the end of the night to defeat Aspinall 5–2 in the closer.
Both matches were controlled displays from Dobey, who looked comfortable on stage across the evening. 'Hollywood' reached the semi-finals at the PDC World Darts Championship last year, and next month, his latest quest for glory begins against Chinese darter Xiaochen Zong.
Bunting defeats Lewis in the night’s other tie
Stephen Bunting also produced a solid performance, beating Lewis 4–2 in a match that will boost Bunting's confidence heading into the Worlds next month.
MODUS events aren’t designed for deep analysis, but with the sport’s biggest tournament now weeks away, the matches in Bolton offered a simple snapshot: King looked sharp, Dobey efficient, Bunting assured, and Aspinall had two competitive outings against high-level opposition.
A clean, uncomplicated look at where each player stands — and nothing beyond what was actually seen on stage.
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