"You've got to do it in the majors, I kind of let myself down": Chris Dobey understands lack of Premier League Darts selection for 2026

Chris Dobey couldn’t have wished for a better start to his Masters campaign. As the tournament’s opening match, the Englishman immediately set the tone with a highly composed and clinical win over Jermaine Wattimena. No exuberant celebrations, no big words, but above all a player who knew exactly what he was doing.

Dobey understood better than anyone how important a good start was in the format of the Winmau World Masters, where sets are decided over best-of-three legs.

“I knew with this format — best of three, winner’s set — you’ve got to start well and find it early,” he explained. “Luckily for me tonight, I found it early and stuck with it.”

The Englishman managed that superbly. He started sharp, applied pressure immediately, and gave his opponent hardly any room to grow into the match. “I got off to an early start,” said Dobey. “I’m happy with the performance.”

The Masters carry extra weight since last year, as the tournament now counts towards the world rankings. For Dobey, that’s a key incentive.

“It’s massive,” he said. “It’s kind of a win-win. If I can pick up a ranked event, then wonderful.”

His victory also felt like a small correction against Wattimena, against whom he had often played well in the past but still lost. “I’ve played Jermain so many times and been on the losing end, even when I’ve played well in those games,” Dobey said. “So I was due a bit of luck against him.”

Although Wattimena didn’t hit his best level, Dobey saw the opportunity clearly. “He didn’t play as well as he has done in the past, but it was there for the taking and I’m just happy to come out on top.”

A lot has changed behind the scenes for Dobey. He recently switched to a new management team, a decision that has clearly brought him calm. “There are a lot of good lads in the same stable and the management is great,” he said. “I got on well with them and had a good relationship with them even before we started working together.”

According to Dobey, that calm is essential. “I’m relaxed going into tournaments, no pressure,” he explained. “I just go out and play darts, and that’s what it should be about.”

Asked whether this is a dangerous version of Chris Dobey, he didn’t shy away.

“Yeah, why not?” he smiled. “I’m going to practise a lot more and put the time in.”

A recent house move has temporarily disrupted his routine, but motivation remains high. “Once I get my room set up and the dartboard on the wall, I think I’ll be a very dangerous man this year.”

After his World Championship exit, Dobey deliberately stepped away from the game. “I didn’t pick a dart up when I lost at the World Championships,” he admitted.

His ‘practice’ came mainly through exhibitions. “I had a few exhibitions — playing on stages and against great players,” he said. “I’m using that as practice.”

Now that the move is complete, focus returns. “Once I get that room sorted and the board’s up, I’ll be practising hard because I want to be back to where I was.”

The Masters have special meaning for Dobey. It was the tournament that accelerated his career a few years ago. “It kick-started my career when I won this,” he recalled. “I got invited to the Premier League and my game just went up and up from there.”

The added ranking status only increases the appeal. “I’d love to win it now,” Dobey said. “It’s a ranked event as well, so that would be a nice touch.”

He is realistic about the challenge ahead. “I’ve got a tough little route ahead, but you only look at the next opponent and I’ll be fully focused on that one.”

Premier League Darts is never far from Dobey’s thinking, and he is clear about what needs to improve.

“Just play well on TV,” he said. “Last year on TV I did nothing.”

While his floor form was solid, the majors told a different story. “I did all my work on the floor last year,” he admitted. “But you’ve got to do it in the majors — I kind of let myself down.”

This season offers a different structure. “This year I’ve got no Premier League, so I can dedicate myself to the tour a lot more,” he explained. “I’ll be playing in everything and ready to go.”

Dobey accepts that progress is rarely linear. “I just hit a little stumbling block,” he reflected. “Everybody goes through that.”

The solution, in his eyes, is straightforward. “You’ve just got to work hard to turn it around.”

Playing in this venue still sparks belief. “It’s what kick-started my career,” he said. “I also won a ProTour here, so I know I can win in this building.”

His scoring patterns also stood out, with treble 19 frequently proving decisive. “You’ve just got to play the board,” Dobey explained. “If they don’t lie, that’s my switch.”

Even a near miss at perfection didn’t distract him. “You always feel confident and the crowd gets on your side,” he said. “It felt good — it just didn’t happen.”

Dobey’s targets remain grounded. “Just to better last year,” he said. “I want to be mixing it with the best in the majors.”

Consistency across formats is the key. “If I can turn that around and do well on the floor and on TV, that would be brilliant,” he added. “My main aim is to start well here.”