Dobey edges Wade in World Matchplay thriller

Chris Dobey has seen off James Wade in a thrilling first round tie at the World Matchplay in Blackpool.

In the final match of the Sunday afternoon session, former Matchplay champion James Wade took on the Premier League star, Chris Dobey. It was Dobey who seemed to have settled the quicker of the pair, racing into a 2-0 lead with three 180s.

Wade though, fired back in the third leg, breaking the throw and getting himself on the board. In leg 4, Dobey wired double 16 for a stunning 132. Wade couldn't punish the miss though and 'Hollywood' returned to get back to two legs clear. After Wade had come agonisingly close to double 6 for 3-2, Dobey pinned double 1 and stretched his lead to 4-1 at the first interval.

Two missed darts at double in the first leg after the break from Wade, gifted Dobey the chance for another leg, one he gratefully grasped. Dobey held throw in the following leg and was suddenly five legs clear of his opponent. Old faithful double 10 then brought Wade back to 6-2, before a stunning 11-dart leg got him another leg back. Following a third straight leg for 'the Machine' the players headed off stage with Dobey leading 6-4.

Following the break, back-to-back 180s saw Dobey leave himself 41 after 9. After six missed darts though, Wade had a shot at 80 to snatch the leg. He couldn't take it and a relieved Dobey returned to pin double 4. A 12-dart 121 finished on tops continued the Wade charge in leg 12. Despite some double trouble, Dobey then moved 8-5 ahead, just two away from the win.

Wade held again to pull back to 8-6 but he knew he needed to break the throw and time was running out. When Dobey moved a leg away from the win, it was back to the wall time for Wade. Missing a dart at double tops to stay in the match, Dobey had 25 for the match but 'Hollywood' fluffed his lines, missing the big 9 and allowing Wade to return and keep himself alive.

With Wade waiting on a double to make it 9-8, Dobey wired double 14 for a match-winning 148 checkout. Once he missed though Wade pinned double 10 and got back to within one. Then it was Wade's turn to miss, slipping into the 1 when aiming for double top. This time Dobey punished, taking out a ruthless 80 for the win.