"I'm hoping to go a long way this week" - Chris Dobey full of confidence before World Matchplay opener on Monday night

Later tonight, Chris Dobey gets his 2024 World Matchplay campaign underway at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. 'Hollywood' faces off against tournament debutant Ritchie Edhouse in the opening round.

"It's one of my favourite tournaments and yeah, I just can't wait to get going," the former World Matchplay quarter-finalist previews in conversation with Online Darts. "I'm playing well, I have been for the last few weeks. I had a little break to get my myself back together and I'm playing some good stuff."

Having consistently improved his level over recent seasons, Dobey is now heading to Blackpool as a seeded player for the first time in his career. "I'm looking forward to it. It's obviously a different feeling coming in as a seed. There's a lot of expectations and people expect me to do well. But, I'm just going to enjoy it and hopefully, I can perform," Dobey says. "I'm still coming in with the same mentality. You've got to believe in your own game and yeah, hopefully I can just go up there and produce."

As mentioned, laying in wait for Dobey in the opening round, is World Matchplay debutant Ritchie Edhouse. The Englishman has been a star of the European Tour this season however, so Dobey isn't getting too far ahead of himself. "Me and Ritchie will both fancy our chances there," Dobey assesses. "He's been playing well the past month or so, so he's got to fancy his chances and I know if I go up there and play well, I can get the job done. So it's going to be a tough one, a tough task, but I'm hoping to get through that one."

As far as his own goals for the week go, Dobey is confident he can get make some serious damage at the 2024 World Matchplay. "This is one of my favourites, if not the favourite and I'm hoping to go a long way this week," he says with optimism. "I'm going to be ready, I'm going to be prepared and I'm getting the last few bits of practice in."