"Need to push on and get into the top ten now": Premier League absence gives Chris Dobey new hunger

Chris Dobey doubled his title haul this season Thursday night by taking the overall victory at Players Championship 19 by defeating Cameron Menzies 8-6 in the final.

Dobey had reached the semifinals by beating Niels Zonneveld (6-4), Rowby-John Rodriguez (6-2), Luke Woodhouse (6-3), James Wade (6-5) and Mensur Suljovic (6-1) in succession. In the last four, he was too strong for Daryl Gurney (7-3).

In the final, Menzies could briefly hope for a first PDC title after taking a 4-2 lead. However, he saw the next three legs go to Dobey, but latched on again with a 13-darter, making it 5-5 after ten legs. Dobey then went on to take a break lead via a 13-darter and a 12-darter. Menzies narrowed the gap to 7-6 with a 16-darter, but Dobey then clinched the title with a superb 80 finish.

“Cammy is up there with some of the biggest scorers in the game,” reflected the former Masters champion.

“I was on the receiving end of that scoring yesterday, so it was nice to get a little bit of payback today! I’ve known Cammy for many years now. I’ve known his potential and how good he is for a long time, and I’m not surprised he’s coming here and doing what he’s doing.”

For "Hollywood," it is his fifth PDC title. "It was a tough field of competitors today, so I'm happy to win titles again," continued Dobey, who currently occupies 13th place on the PDC Order of Merit.

“It was a tough field today, so I’m delighted to be winning titles again,” continued Dobey, currently ranked 13th on the PDC Order of Merit.

“I was practising with Joe Cullen yesterday and I said: ‘The way I’m playing, I feel like I can win one of these two [events].

"I need to push on and get into the top ten now. Not being in the Premier League this year gave me the kick up the backside I needed, and it’s brought my floor game on.”