PDC Players Championship 3 Round-up | Chris Dobey demolishes Stephen Bunting in clinical final performance to take first title of 2026

Chris Dobey rules supreme in Wigan after a fine final performance saw him past an under-par Stephen Bunting 8-1 to win Players Championship 3.

It was a 15th PC final for Dobey who has really found some form and consistency over the past few years in this scenery. The world number 13 had only managed one win in Hildesheim at the opening two tournaments but turned this around as he cited a ninth ProTour title.

He began his day in Wigan with a comprehensive 6-1 win over former WDF world champion Shane McGuirk ahead of taking down Ryan Joyce 6-4 while averaging 106 on the dot.

Bradley Brooks is usually a tricky customer, but it would prove to be a walk in the park for ‘Hollywood’ as he romped towards a 6-0 triumph against ‘Bam Bam’. He survived three match darts before taking his sixth in a dramatic quarterfinal win over Daryl Pilgrim. He went into his semi-final a big favourite over Tom Bissell who reached a maiden last-four. He was blown away by an authoritative Dobey in a 7-2 victory.

Dobey came out the blocks faster. He raced far ahead to set up double 16 with Bunting not even close to a double. He showed his intentions by pinning it the first time of asking before accelerating away again. Partly due to his brilliance, partly because of a slow start for Bunting. Dobey took out 60 in two for a significant break. This meant that Bunting had to break the throw twice if he wanted to clinch the title.

Bunting was looking for a fifth PC title, but he would need to complete another comeback similar to his semi-final. He finally got down to a double but never had a chance to aim for it to break instantly back as Dobey took out 72 in three on tops to extend his lead.

Dobey came close to the first ton+ checkout of the match, missing double 16 for a 110 outshot. Bunting was averaging in the low 80s at this point, taking him 21 darts to even get remotely close to a double. Dobey found the green bit of double 16 again and moved halfway towards the title.

Another leg went the way of Dobey as the frustrations from the former world number four became a lot clearer as he shook his head after failing to find the treble. Dobey showed his versatility on the doubles, missing tops before coming down to pin double 10 to extend his lead to five legs unanswered.

The whitewash would not occur to the fortune of Bunting as he finally got a dart at double. It may have been the bull, but he could not convert but luckily Dobey was having an off leg and Bunting cleaned up on double eight. He got a whole load more in the next leg when Dobey showed his worst form on the outer ring. He missed double 16 for a 106 outshot before failing to find his intended target on two separate visits. This offered Bunting a whole host of chances to break but he wasted every chance. Dobey finally cleaned up on double four for a 22-dart leg but it would not matter as he extended his lead back to five legs.

Bunting was one of the Premier League talents who opted against making the trip to Hildesheim last week, meaning he had nothing on the board. The number two seed, he has been a weapon on the floor, and this has been showcased to the highest order today, in a huge contrast to his prior abysmal stage form.

Carl Sneyd stood no chance in the opening round, losing 6-1 before Alexander Merkx managed to get a couple more legs off ‘The Bullet’ but a 105.41 average from Bunting was enough to prevent him making anymore inroads as he won 6-3.

A ridiculously close match against Derek Coulson could have gone either way with both players averaging over 101, but it was the world number six who edged ahead. Three high profile wins followed. At 4-4, he managed to close the match out against Danny Noppert with one prolific swoop before exerting his revenge against Jonny Clayton after defeat in Antwerp. He won against ‘The Ferret’ 6-3 before completing a remarkable turnaround against James Wade. The PC1 champion stormed into a 6-2 lead, looking for all the worth that he would make a second final in 2026. Despite this, Bunting completed a brilliant comeback as he won five consecutive legs to book his spot in the final.

Bunting again had three darts at a double, including double 18 for a 121. The pattern continued with squandered darts punished ruthlessly by Dobey who moved further away from Bunting and one leg from the match. He finished with a bit of style, taking out 84 on double 11 as he repeats the events of last year and wins PC3. Bunting's average came out to a lacklustre 84.92 with Dobey a far more respectable 95.37.

Luke Littler is now the only current Premier League Darts player to not feature on the ProTour this season. Luke Humphries was the big name making his return to the Circuit but could only reach the third round as he lost a last-leg decider to Ritchie Edhouse, abruptly halting what was an easy opening two matches.

Josh Rock also got his campaign underway but exited a round earlier than the world number two, falling short to eventual quarterfinalist Jim Long in a dismal display from the World Cup winner. Even worse was Gian van Veen losing at the first hurdle to Pilgrim. Price also lost at this stage in a huge upset against Adam Lipscombe, coming unstuck 6-2. ‘The Iceman’ was stunning in Hildesheim enroute to the final in the last event but could not repeat the magic in Wigan.

It may have been a frustrating end for Wade after he blew his ginormous lead, but he managed to claim back top spot in the Players Championship Order of Merit. Wessel Nijman drops to second after a third-round defeat. Nathan Aspinall exited at the same stage but moved up to fourth. It would have been third but the brilliance of Dobey pushed him up into the top three. Price slipped down to fifth.

The likes of Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Ryan Searle and Martin Schindler sat this event out.