"I smashed Ryan Joyce – that’s the main thing!": Chris Dobey jokingly saw edging North East rivalry as highlight in Players Championship 3 triumph

With a commanding victory at the third Players Championship of the year, Chris Dobey delivered a powerful statement at the start of the new season. The Englishman felt he played “pretty steady all day” and capped it with a win in the final. It was further proof that Dobey belongs to the absolute elite on the floor – but his hunger goes beyond that. He wants more. He wants to return to the biggest stage of them all.

After his triumph at Players Championship 3, Dobey radiated satisfaction, though he was realistic about his display in the final.

“I felt I played pretty steady all day,” he said. “Once my doubles were going in, I felt comfortable. I think I lost it mid-game a bit when we both started missing doubles, but I was happy to get over the line.”

Finals are not just about averages, but about timing and control. Dobey showed he stayed cool in the decisive phases. His opponent, Stephen Bunting, didn’t hit his usual level.

“Stephen didn’t play his best game. He just said he felt great before the game, but it just didn’t happen. Sometimes you get those days, and fortunately for me, I came out on the winning end.”

It underlines the maturity of the former Masters champion: winning on days when not everything comes naturally.

No tournament win comes without rough patches. In the quarter-finals, Dobey narrowly escaped against Daryl Gurney.

“Yeah, and you need luck to win tournaments like this,” he said.

On the ProTour, where the pace is high and matches come thick and fast, details are decisive. One missed match dart or an unexpected 180 can be the difference between elimination and a title. Dobey knows that better than anyone.

In the earlier rounds he swept aside Ryan Joyce convincingly. With a grin, he reflected on that clash.

“I smashed Ryan Joyce – that’s the main thing! No, I’m happy with the way I’ve played today. Obviously me and Ryan have that banter, and he keeps telling me my finishing’s poor. I think I might have been sixth or eighth against him, but I dug in because I didn’t want to lose that one for sure. To carry it on throughout the day and then get the job done in the final like that – yeah, happy days.”

That friendly rivalry seems to give Dobey an extra edge.

This victory takes Dobey to nine ProTour titles. Notably, he also defended prize money on the one-year ranking with this win.

“I think I was actually defending this one from the one-year ranking,” he explained. “I said to Chris Mason at the weekend, ‘I’ve got a big job to do this weekend,’ and on day one I’ve done it – so yeah, I’m happy.”

Landing a title early in the year is worth its weight in gold. Not just for the prize money, but especially for confidence. The season is long, with countless Players Championships, Euro Tours and TV events. A flying start can set the tone.

Yet there’s also a shadow over Dobey’s season: his absence from the Premier League. Last year he was part of the prestigious line-up, but this year he missed out.

“I want to be back there,” he said. “I felt last year I didn’t do enough on TV, losing early in the World Championship. But I felt on the floor I was brilliant – I was up there. I want to produce it on TV as well as on the floor. You don’t just want to do it on the floor. I want to be back with the best week in, week out, and I’ll be working my backside off to get there.”

That assessment is direct and honest. Dobey has been one of the most dangerous players on the ProTour for a few years, but on the big TV stages he wants to prove even more.

While some top players are more selective with Players Championship events, Dobey is taking a different approach this year.

“Last year when I was in the Premier League I missed quite a few because you’ve got to manage your schedule a bit better. This year I’m dedicated again – I’m doing them all. If I can keep doing this, then who knows, I might be up there again.”

It’s a clear message to the competition and to the PDC: Dobey is fully committed.

An early title can trigger momentum for the rest of the campaign.

“Yeah, of course. It gives you that momentum to take throughout the year. It’s always good to start the year well, and I have done the past few years. I just need to keep my feet on the floor, keep practising, and hopefully produce a lot more than this.”

There isn’t much time to savour it. The Players Championship circuit rolls on immediately. When asked if he would be back for the next event, Dobey’s response was emphatic:

“One hundred per cent – I’ll be in them all.”