🗣️ "I just want to go under the radar!" Hear from Chris Dobey after he whitewashed the reigning champion Michael Smith on a dramatic night here at Ally Pally...
"I'm going all out and I want to be the champion" - Chris Dobey into World Championship quarterfinals after ending the reign of Michael Smith
PDCSaturday, 30 December 2023 at 12:00
Chris Dobey is into the quarterfinals of the World Darts Championship for the second year in a row. 'Hollywood' took a very impressive victory in the last 16, sending reigning world champion Michael Smith home 4-0.
"Delighted to get through that," says a beaming Dobey in his post-match press conference. "I didn't even feel comfortable up there tonight. Scoring was nowhere near its best but I think he let me in on too many doubles and I punished. So yeah, I'm just happy to come through another tough opponent."
Despite admittedly not feeling comfortable, Dobey was able to fire in an average of over 102. "I would have never ever thought that. Probably low 90s I would have thought," admits Dobey. "But yeah, I I knew he was going to be up there with his scoring and early doors he was. Hitting 180s and I'm thinking 'oh you know who's going to get that Ballon d'Art now!' He's a great lad and I've got all the time in the world for him, it's just there had to be one winner and I'm pleased it was my night tonight."
Having knocked out the reigning champion, should Dobey now be considered a title favourite? "I'm going all out and I want to be that champion at the end of the year! But, I just want to go under the radar I don't want to be mentioned."
Dobey can rest for the next two days. His match in the quarterfinals is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 1, when he takes on the winner of the duel between Rob Cross and Jonny Clayton. "My goal for this World Championship was to get one round further than last year, so for that I need to win one more match," he laughed.
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