Delight for Dobey! Clinical Chris Dobey triumphs in Players Championship 33 to secure spot in Grand Slam of Darts

Chris Dobey produced a fantastic display of darts in Wigan to claim the title against William O’Connor in an 8-6 victory in the final of Players Championship 33. This title also secures his place in the upcoming Grand Slam of Darts.

Hollywood was impressive throughout the day. He defeated Greg Ritchie (6-1), Rob Owen (6-2), before averaging 108.74 against Jeffrey de Graaf (6-2), 107.55 against Damon Heta (6-3) and 111.29 in disposing of Nathan Aspinall (6-2). Heta and Aspinall had pinned nine-darters earlier today but could do nothing about the rampant Geordie. He then overcame Wessel Nijman (7-2) to sail through to a fourth final of the year.

It was O’Connor’s first PDC final since 2019, having knocked out Robert Grundy (6-1), Michele Turetta (6-3), Andy Boulton (6-3), Chris Landman (6-5), Thibault Tricole (6-3) and an underwhelming Ryan Joyce (7-2) with a second PDC title on the horizon.

O’Connor raced into the lead with a 13-darter before Dobey levelled up straight away after missing darts for a 11 and 12-darter. Hollywood then almost produced a stunning 146 to break but missed double 16. O’Connor cleaned up on double 10 to keep ahead of his opponent. Dobey left himself on bull for a 170, but sensibly left double 16, coming back to take it out in 14-darts. He then took out 81 on double 13 to clinch a crucial break and go 3-2 ahead of the Irishman. However, O’Connor battled back and took out 118 on tops to once again level this tie and put it back on throw. It was a high-quality final, with the pair averaging over 100 six legs in.

O’Connor once again took the lead after Dobey missed a dart at the bull. He had the chance to leap into a two-leg lead with a 123 outshot but missed the bull before fluffing his lines in the next visit. Dobey also messed around at the end of the leg but got over the line on double two. He would then take back the lead with a 70 outshot on double 16, going three legs from victory.

As the 10th leg commenced, the duo was both averaging exactly 100.18, showing how even this final was. Dobey would go on to level the scoreline on double seven after escaping punishment from O’Connor. He would once again fall behind after an incredible 151 checkout from The Magpie. However, his advantage would once again be extinguished by Dobey who found a 12-dart leg to level affairs at 6-6. Dobey would then produce some scintillating darts. A 171 set up double 12, which he pinned with one dart. He then took control of the final leg and took out 64 in three to claim an eighth Pro Tour title in the penultimate Players Championship event of 2025.