The PDC Players Championship circuit is renowned for its intense competition, bringing together the world’s best darts players in a series of day-long tournaments. Players Championship 3, held in Wigan, proved to be a stage for one player to truly shine: Chris Dobey.
Dobey’s Dominant March to the Title
From the first dart thrown to the final double, Chris Dobey was in a league of his own at Players Championship 3. The 35-year-old, affectionately known as “Hollywood,” delivered a masterclass in consistent, high-level darts, ultimately securing the £15,000 top prize.
A Flawless Journey (Almost)
Dobey’s path to the final was marked by a series of commanding victories, demonstrating his unwavering focus and skill:
- Opening Rounds: He began with a comfortable 6-1 win against Shane McGuirk, followed by solid 6-4 victories over both Jimmy van Schie and Ryan Joyce.
- Whitewash Performance: Dobey then delivered a stunning 6-0 whitewash against former World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks, sending a clear message to his rivals.
- The Only Decider: The only time Dobey was truly pushed to his limit was in the quarter-finals, where he overcame a resilient Darryl Pilgrim 6-5 in a thrilling deciding leg. This was the only deciding leg he faced throughout the entire tournament, highlighting his control.
- Semi-Final Cruise: In the semi-finals, Dobey maintained his high standards, averaging an impressive 12 points more than his opponent, Tom Bissell, en route to a dominant 7-2 win.
Final Showdown: Dobey vs. Bunting
The final pitted Dobey against the in-form Stephen Bunting, “The Bullet,” who had also enjoyed a strong run to the decisive match. However, the final proved to be a one-sided affair, with Dobey asserting his dominance from the outset.
Dobey raced into a 5-0 lead, showcasing incredible scoring power with five of the first six legs completed in 15 darts or less. While Bunting managed to get a consolation leg on the board, Dobey quickly reasserted control, closing out the match with brilliant legs of 14 and 12 darts to seal an emphatic 8-1 victory.
“I felt like I played pretty steady all day, I’m happy to get over the line,” Dobey commented after his win. He acknowledged Bunting’s quality but highlighted that sometimes it’s just not your day, adding, “You need luck to win tournaments like this, I was defending this one from two years ago, and day one I won it.”
Looking ahead, Dobey made his ambitions clear: “I want to be back in there [Premier League], I didn’t do enough last year, I want to produce this game on the big stages.”
Bunting’s Impressive Run and Other Notable Performances
Despite the final scoreline, Stephen Bunting had a stellar tournament, reaching the final with three 100+ averages along the way. His journey included a 6-1 win over Carl Sneyd and a 105+ average in his 6-3 victory against Alexander Merkx. Bunting also navigated a last-leg decider against Derek Coulson before overcoming a string of top-tier opponents: Danny Noppert, Jonny Clayton, and James Wade.
Stars Who Shined
Several other players delivered memorable performances throughout Players Championship 3:
- James Wade: The Players Championship 1 winner reached the semi-finals, defeating Kevin Doets and the resurgent Cristo Reyes along the way.
- Tom Bissell: Made a strong run to the semi-finals, notably eliminating former World Champion Rob Cross and 2024 European Champion Ritchie Edhouse.
- Jim Long: Impressed with a commendable run to the quarter-finals, including ousting Premier League star Josh Rock, before being stopped by Bissell.
- Darryl Pilgrim: Turned heads with his journey to the quarter-finals, defeating seeded players Gian van Veen, Ricardo Pietreczko, and Krzysztof Ratajski, as well as Maik Kuivenhoven, before his close encounter with eventual winner Dobey.
Looking Ahead: The Darts Season Continues
The 2026 PDC ProTour season is set to continue with Players Championship 4 taking place tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17th, at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. Following this, the majority of PDC Tour Card Holders will remain in Wigan on Wednesday for the first European Tour qualifiers of the year.
The PDC Players Championship series will then resume next week in Wigan for PC3 & 4 on Monday, February 16th, and Tuesday, February 17th, before 48 players head to Krakow for the inaugural Poland Darts Open, the first PDC European Tour event of 2026. Darts fans can anticipate more thrilling action as the season unfolds.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
