"Anybody can beat anybody" - Chris Dobey unsurprised by early World Championship exits of Anderson, Cross, Smith and other top seeds

The 2025 PDC World Darts Championship has been full of surprises so far. After the Christmas break, the third round kicks off on Friday and we do so with only 18 of the 32 seeds still in contention. The likes of Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Dave Chisnall, James Wade, Gary Anderson and others have already fallen at Alexandra Palace.

There are some surprises every year in the first rounds of the World Darts Championship, but this year it is remarkable how many seeds have already fallen. Besides the already mentioned names, other top players like Raymond van Barneveld, Danny Noppert, Mike De Decker and Ritchie Edhouse, the latter two, who won their first major title earlier this year, also went down immediately in their first match. One who did survive his first hurdle though was Chris Dobey. The 34-year-old Englishman defeated Alexander Merkx 3-1 in the second round and will now face Josh Rock.

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That so many seeds have already had to drop out is no surprise to Dobey himself. "For the likes of myself and a few of the other lads, it's no surprise because on floor this year, anybody can beat anybody," he says on TalkSport. "The standard is so high now so nothing to us is kind of a shock. It is for you guys because you suspect Gary and that to do well. But the standard now is ridiculous and everybody can beat anybody."

Chris Dobey in action at the World Darts Championship 

As mentioned, Dobey himself survived a potentially tricky first test, performing extremely well too in his opening match at the World Darts Championship, posting an average of over 95. "Honestly I'm so happy with where my game's at," he adds. "I was a bit scrappy on the doubles the other night but if I can hit my doubles sooner, then I think I can go really deep in the competition, I'm feeling confident."

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