Chris Dobey has once again proven his formidable form, securing his ninth career ProTour title at Players Championship 3 in Wigan. ‘Hollywood’ delivered a stunning performance, culminating in a resounding 8-1 victory over Stephen Bunting in the final. While Dobey’s path was largely smooth, Bunting showed incredible resilience with a memorable semi-final comeback. The tournament also saw rising stars like Tom Bissell and Darryl Pilgrim make deep runs, while several top seeds faced surprising early exits, highlighting the unpredictable nature of professional darts.
Dobey’s Unstoppable March to Victory
Chris Dobey, fresh from retrieving his lost equipment from the previous week, was in exceptional form throughout Players Championship 3. His journey to the final was marked by a series of dominant displays, showcasing his precision and scoring power.
- Early Rounds: Dobey comfortably dispatched Shane McGuirk 6-1 in the first round. He then navigated tougher challenges against Jimmy van Schie and Ryan Joyce, winning both 6-4. His match against Joyce was particularly impressive, featuring a standout 106 average.
- Quarter-Final Scare: ‘Hollywood’ continued his momentum by whitewashing Bradley Brooks 6-0. However, his quarter-final clash against Darryl Pilgrim proved to be his biggest test. Dobey found himself 3-5 down and faced match darts, but he showed incredible composure to fight back, including a crucial 12-darter and a 130 checkout, to win the match.
- Semi-Final and Final Dominance: In the semi-final, Dobey faced surprise package Tom Bissell, whom he defeated 7-2 with another impressive 100+ average. This set up a final against Stephen Bunting, where Dobey truly shone. He quickly established a 5-0 lead with legs of 13, 14, and 15 darts. Despite Bunting taking one leg, Dobey remained relentless, sealing his ninth ProTour title with an emphatic 8-1 victory, including a decisive 12-darter in the final leg.
Bunting’s Resilient Run Ends in Final Heartbreak
Stephen Bunting, making his first ProTour appearance of the year, delivered a series of strong performances to reach the final. ‘The Bullet’ recorded three triple-digit averages on his way, demonstrating his potential for a successful season.
His most remarkable match came in the semi-final against James Wade. Bunting found himself in a seemingly hopeless position, trailing 2-6. However, he mounted an extraordinary comeback, surviving a match dart against him to win five consecutive legs and secure a thrilling 7-6 victory. This heroic effort, however, seemed to have taken its toll, as he struggled to find his rhythm in the final against a clinical Chris Dobey.
Tournament Surprises and Notable Performances
Players Championship 3 was not short on unexpected results and memorable runs:
- Tom Bissell: ‘Bizzness’ had a career-best day, reaching his first-ever ProTour semi-final.
- Darryl Pilgrim: After a long absence, Pilgrim returned to the quarter-finals, narrowly missing out on a semi-final spot against Dobey.
- Jim Long: The Canadian made his first-ever quarter-final appearance, marking a significant milestone in his career.
- Beau Greaves: Despite struggling with her throw, Greaves came very close to reaching the quarter-finals, ultimately losing a deciding leg to Jonny Clayton.
- Cristo Reyes: Impressed with a strong run to the Last 16.
Early Exits for Top Stars
The tournament also saw several high-profile players exit early, underscoring the depth of talent on the ProTour:
- Gerwyn Price: The top seed was surprisingly eliminated in the very first round.
- Other notable players who failed to secure prize money included Cameron Menzies, Joe Cullen, Dave Chisnall, and the struggling duo of Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright. Their performances continue to raise concerns about their current form.
German-Speaking Players: A Mixed Bag
For the German-speaking contingent, the tournament brought a mix of promising runs and early disappointments.
- Niko Springer: ‘The Meenzer Bub’ was the standout German player, reaching the Last 16 for only the third time in his career. He overcame Mervyn King (6-4), Max Hopp (6-3), and Dirk van Duijvenbode (6-5) in a thrilling encounter. His run was eventually ended by Kevin Doets in the Last 16 (3-6).
- Lukas Wenig: Made it to the Board Final (Last 32), securing impressive wins against Ross Smith and Tyler Thorpe (surviving match darts), before falling to Cristo Reyes (1-6).
- Ricardo Pietreczko: ‘Pikachu’ also reached the Board Final, battling through deciding legs against Adam Paxton and Chris Landman, but was then comprehensively defeated 0-6 by a strong Darryl Pilgrim.
- Max Hopp & Kai Gotthardt: Both reached the second round after winning their opening matches against fellow Germans (Dominik Grüllich and Leon Weber, respectively) but couldn’t progress further.
- Early Eliminations: Gabriel Clemens, Mensur Suljovic (whitewashed), Dominik Grüllich, Stefan Bellmont, Pascal Rupprecht (lost in a decider to Beau Greaves), Marvin Kraft (close 4-6 loss to Danny Noppert), Maximilian Czerwinski, Leon Weber, Arno Merk, Yorick Hofkens, and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez all exited in the first round.
- Absentees: Martin Schindler and Matthias Ehlers withdrew from the event due to health reasons.
Tournament Format and Viewing Information
Players Championship events are part of the PDC ProTour, offering valuable ranking points and prize money. The format progresses through various stages:
- Matches up to the Quarter-Finals: Best of 11 legs
- Semi-Finals: Best of 13 legs
- Final: Best of 15 legs
The total prize fund for each event is £150,000, with the winner taking home £15,000 and the runner-up £10,000. Prize money is awarded down to the Last 64.
While Players Championship tournaments are not broadcast on traditional television, fans can follow the action live. The official PDC.TV streaming service provides coverage of four boards, offering a fantastic opportunity to watch emerging talent and established stars. Additionally, all matches from every board can be tracked via the live scorer on Dartconnect.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
