Highest Averages Players Championship 3: Surprise leader as Jonny Clayton, Chris Dobey and Stephen Bunting sit in top five
PDCTuesday, 17 February 2026 at 08:00
The third Players Championship of the year was won on Monday by Chris Dobey. The 35-year-old Englishman proved far too strong in the final in Wigan, defeating compatriot Stephen Bunting 8-1. For Dobey, it is already the ninth Players Championship title of his career.
However, Dobey did not record the highest average of the day at Players Championship 3, as that honor went to Kevin Doets. He swept aside England’s Owen Bates 6-1 in the last 64. Doets posted a superb average of 113.05 in that match.
The quarterfinals ultimately proved the end of the road for Doets after a 6-4 defeat to Englishman James Wade. Doets does climb to 37th on the world rankings.
The second-highest average was set by Jonny Clayton. The 51-year-old Welshman whitewashed Sweden’s Viktor Tingström 6-0 in the last 64, averaging 107.36. Clayton then reached the quarterfinals, where he lost 6-3 to eventual finalist Bunting.
Completing the top three highest averages at Players Championship 3 is Dobey himself. The tournament winner beat compatriot Ryan Joyce 6-4 in the last 32, averaging 106 in that match.
Despite his tournament victory, Dobey remains 13th on the world rankings. He does, however, edge closer to current number ten, Danny Noppert.
Just outside the top three we find Niels Zonneveld. The 27-year-old Dutchman defeated Welshman Rhys Griffin 6-3 in the opening round and recorded a 105.88 average in that match. Zonneveld eventually lost 6-5 in the last 32 to Canadian Jim Long. Stephen Bunting completes the top five with 105.41.
The Players Championship continues this afternoon, with the fourth tournament of the year on the schedule in Wigan.
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