Chris Dobey has once again proven his elite status in the darts world, securing his second Players Championship title of 2026 at Event 9 in Wigan. “Hollywood” delivered a masterclass performance, culminating in an 8-4 victory over a resurgent Justin Hood in the final. This triumph marks a continuation of Dobey’s impressive trend of winning multiple Pro Tour titles in a year. The tournament also saw a host of surprises, with many top seeds exiting early, and notable runs from players like Mensur Suljovic, who reached the Last 16, and Germany’s Dominik Grüllich, who made it to a board final.
Dobey’s Unstoppable March to Victory
Just two months after his first Pro Tour win of 2026, Chris Dobey returned to Wigan in formidable form. His path to the final was marked by **dominant displays and high averages**, making him almost impossible to stop.
- **Round 1:** A strong start with a near-100 average, defeating Dennie Olde Kalter 6-4.
- **Round 2:** A sensational **109 average** in a 6-1 win against Rhys Griffin.
- **Early Rounds:** Continued his impressive form with convincing wins over Jim Long (6-2) and Luke Woodhouse (6-1).
- **Quarter-Final:** Overcame Richard Veenstra 6-3.
- **Semi-Final:** Another **triple-digit average** secured a one-sided 7-1 victory against Andrew Gilding.
The Grand Finale: Dobey vs. Hood
The final against Justin Hood, while still won comfortably by Dobey, provided moments of intense darting action. Hood, nicknamed “Happy Feet,” started strong, hitting **12-darters with checkouts of 121 and 167**.
Dobey responded in kind, hitting his own 12-darter and leveling the score. After some struggles on the doubles for Hood, **Dobey pulled ahead to 4-2, sealing his lead with a magnificent 164 checkout for another 12-darter**. The high-quality match continued as Hood fought back, reducing the deficit to 3-5 with a 12-darter of his own.
However, Dobey remained composed, extending his lead to 7-3 with two 15-darters. He then closed out the match on his own throw, securing the title with an **8-4 victory**. This win marks Dobey’s **tenth career success on the PDC Pro Tour floor**.
Justin Hood’s Resurgence
Justin Hood, known for his strong run at the previous World Championship, had been relatively quiet since. This Players Championship event marked a significant return to form for “Happy Feet,” as he reached his **first Pro Tour final**.
While he avoided some of the biggest names on his route, his strong performances throughout the day showcased his immense talent and hinted at future successes, even if the title eluded him this time.
Tournament of Surprises: Upsets and Breakthroughs
Event 9 was characterized by numerous upsets, with **only two seeded players reaching the quarter-finals**: Chris Dobey himself and Andrew Gilding, whose strong performance propelled him into a provisional World Matchplay spot.
- **Beau Greaves:** Reached her **first quarter-final**, defeating darts legends Raymond van Barneveld and Jonny Clayton along the way.
- **Tom Sykes:** Also made his **first appearance in the Last 8**.
- **Connor Scutt:** Had another strong run, though didn’t reach the final this time.
- **Joe Hunt:** The current Challenge Tour leader, reached the **Last 16**.
The early rounds saw many big names struggle, with the Dutch trio of Danny Noppert, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Jermaine Wattimena, along with Stephen Bunting, Dave Chisnall, and Joe Cullen, all exiting in Round 1.
Interestingly, **two nine-darters** were thrown during the event: one by Thomas Lovely and another by Australia’s Adam Leek, marking a career first for both.
Mensur Suljovic and German Hopes
After a few challenging weeks, Austria’s Mensur Suljovic, “The Gentle,” found his form, reaching the **Last 16**.
He overcame Yorick Hofkens and Josh Rock, who had boasted a 111 average in his previous match. Suljovic then mounted a comeback from 3-4 down against James Hurrell, securing a 6-4 win with impressive 112 and 160 checkouts. His run was eventually ended by finalist Justin Hood.
For the German contingent, Dominik Grüllich was the standout performer, reaching a **board final (Last 32)**. He impressively defeated James Wade 6-1, who had an uncharacteristically low average. Other German players like Niko Springer, Max Hopp, and Arno Merk also secured prize money, but couldn’t advance further.
Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko, and Gabriel Clemens faced early exits, with Schindler losing a tight match despite a 100+ average, and Pietreczko suffering his fourth consecutive first-round defeat.
Looking Ahead
The darts action continues tomorrow in Wigan with the **tenth Players Championship event of the year**. Fans can expect another day of thrilling matches as players battle for ranking points and prize money.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
