Chris ‘Hollywood’ Dobey showcased a masterclass in darts at Players Championship 9 in Wigan, clinching his second title of 2026 with an utterly dominant performance. The tournament saw high-octane action, a thrilling final against an in-form Justin Hood, and a string of shocking early exits for many top seeds. Dobey’s consistent brilliance, marked by multiple 100+ averages, cemented his status as a formidable force on the ProTour.
Darts fans were treated to a spectacle at Players Championship 9 in Wigan, where Chris ‘Hollywood’ Dobey delivered a performance of sheer dominance to claim his second title of the 2026 season. The event, featuring 116 PDC tour card holders and 12 Challenge Tour players, was a rollercoaster of upsets, high averages, and nail-biting finishes, culminating in Dobey’s emphatic victory over Justin Hood.
Early Exits Shake Up the Tournament
The ninth Players Championship of the season kicked off with immediate drama, as several big names found themselves crashing out in the very first round. The shocks included:
- Dirk van Duijvenbode suffered a surprising 6-0 whitewash against Madars Razma.
- Raymond van Barneveld was convincingly beaten 6-1 by Beau Greaves.
- Other prominent players like Danny Noppert, Jermaine Wattimena, Stephen Bunting, Dave Chisnall, and Martin Schindler also failed to progress past the opening round.
The trend of upsets continued into the second round, with top seed Wessel Nijman being eliminated 6-3 by Tom Bissell. Further notable departures included Niels Zonneveld, Josh Rock, Ross Smith, and Damon Heta, all heading home after just two matches.
Dobey’s Dominant Path to the Final
As the field thinned, Chris Dobey began to assert his authority. By the quarter-finals, only two seeded players remained: Dobey and Andrew Gilding. Gilding had an impressive run himself, notably defeating Luke Humphries 6-4 in the last 16.
The semi-final stage saw an anticipated clash between the last two seeded players, Dobey and Gilding. Dobey, in formidable form, dispatched his compatriot with a resounding 7-1 victory, registering his third 100+ average of the day. His consistent high scoring and clinical finishing proved too much for Gilding.
Justin Hood’s Remarkable Journey
On the other side of the draw, Justin Hood embarked on a remarkable journey to reach his maiden PDC ProTour final as a tour card holder. Hood, who impressed at the previous World Championship by reaching the quarter-finals, showed incredible composure and skill throughout the day. His path to the final included strong wins over:
- Ryan Meikle (6-2)
- Robert Owen (6-4)
- Mensur Suljovic (6-3)
- Connor Scutt (7-3 in the semi-finals)
A Thrilling Final: Dobey vs. Hood
The final promised fireworks, pitting the dominant Dobey against the surprising yet formidable Hood. And it certainly delivered.
Hood started explosively, seizing an early 2-0 lead with sensational finishes of 121 and 167 in just 12 darts each. However, Dobey, unfazed, quickly retaliated with a 12- and 13-darter to level the score at 2-2. Hood then had opportunities to regain the lead but faltered on his doubles, allowing ‘Hollywood’ to capitalize.
Dobey surged ahead, establishing a 5-2 lead, which included a magnificent 164 checkout. Hood fought back valiantly with a 12-darter to break Dobey’s throw, but couldn’t consolidate the break. Dobey immediately broke back with a 74 finish, then reached match point at 7-3 with a 68 checkout.
Hood managed to hold his own leg with a strong 90 finish, but it was too little, too late. Dobey sealed the high-quality final 8-4 with a 17-darter, securing his second title of the year.
Final Match Statistics:
- Chris Dobey: Average 105.28, Checkout Percentage 53.3%
- Justin Hood: Average 102.91, Checkout Percentage 50%
Dutch Players’ Performances
Among the Dutch contingent, three players managed to win their respective board finals. Richard Veenstra was the standout, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time this season. Veenstra edged out fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets in a deciding eleventh leg in the last 16 before his run was halted by the eventual champion, Chris Dobey, who defeated him 6-3 in the quarter-finals. Martijn Dragt also competed but fell 6-3 to England’s Tom Sykes.
Tournament Results at a Glance:
Quarter-Finals:
- Connor Scutt 6-4 Tom Bissell
- Justin Hood 6-0 Tom Sykes
- Andrew Gilding 6-3 Beau Greaves
- Chris Dobey 6-3 Richard Veenstra
Semi-Finals:
- Justin Hood 7-3 Connor Scutt
- Chris Dobey 7-1 Andrew Gilding
Dobey’s ProTour Prowess
This victory marks Chris Dobey’s second Players Championship title of 2026 and his tenth ProTour event win overall. Notably, four of these ten titles have been secured in Wigan, a venue that clearly holds special significance for ‘Hollywood’. His consistent high-level play and ability to perform under pressure continue to make him a formidable competitor on the PDC circuit.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
