In a fiery first-round encounter at the PDC World Darts Championship, England’s Chris Dobey admitted he momentarily “wanted to slap” his opponent after a cheeky showboating moment that lit a fire under the world number eight during their clash at Alexandra Palace.
The Bedlington star, nicknamed ‘Hollywood’ for his charismatic flair and trademark baseball cap, overcame both a debilitating sickness bug and the audacious antics of China’s Xiaochen Zong to secure a hard-fought 3-1 victory. Dobey, who reached the semi-finals just 12 months ago only to fall to Michael van Gerwen, powered through with six maximum 180s, but the match will be remembered as much for its drama off the oche as on it.
The pivotal incident unfolded when Zong, trailing in the contest, stepped up chasing a crucial 180. Having nailed the first two treble 20s to whip the raucous Ally Pally crowd into a frenzy, the 27-year-old boldly turned his back to the board and threw his third dart no-look style—still sinking the treble for a maximum. The arena erupted in delight at the brazen confidence, but Dobey was far from amused. “I could’ve slapped him when going for that 180, though,” he later confessed with a wry smile. “It annoyed us a little bit and I wanted to try that little bit harder.”
That spark of irritation proved motivational gold for Dobey, who channeled the frustration into greater determination. He stormed the opening set with clinical checkouts, only for Zong to claw one back amid some erratic doubling from the Englishman. Dobey regained control in the third before sealing the win in the fourth, punishing any lapses from his opponent while riding the wave of adrenaline from the earlier slight.
Compounding the challenge was Dobey’s physical state. Struck down by a sickness bug the night before and into the morning of the match, he revealed the ordeal had left him drained. “I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning,” he admitted candidly. “I didn’t feel great last night and this morning. I had some kind of sickness bug. The harder I tried, the worse I got and I just didn’t want to be up there the last two sets.” Despite the discomfort, his scoring power shone through, and the victory ensured he advanced without expending excessive energy ahead of tougher tests.
Dobey’s resilience at Alexandra Palace is becoming legendary. The 35-year-old has now reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the past three World Championships, cementing his status as one of the tour’s most consistent big-stage performers. His breakthrough major came at the 2023 Masters, where he defeated Rob Cross in the final, and he’s since added multiple Players Championship titles to his resume. From humble beginnings in traffic management to rubbing shoulders with darts royalty, Dobey’s journey embodies the grit required in a sport where mental fortitude often trumps pure talent.
Next up for Dobey is a second-round showdown with Andrew Gilding, the former UK Open champion known as ‘Goldfinger’. It’s a matchup that promises fireworks, as Dobey knows a strong performance is needed to keep his dreams of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy alive. “If you can’t get yourself up for the biggest tournament, you shouldn’t be in it – you shouldn’t be playing darts,” he declared passionately. “It’s what everybody dreams of. You want to be world champion, you want to be here playing. My motto, I’ve always said, this is the one and you’ve got to be in it. If you’re not in over Christmas, it ruins Christmas. That’s the way I go into this tournament. It’s the biggest one of all and you want to win that big one.”
Zong, for his part, showcased why he’s China’s top player with flashes of brilliance, including that viral no-look 180 that has darts fans buzzing online. His entertaining style injected fun into the proceedings, even if it ruffled feathers on the opposite side of the oche. In a tournament already buzzing with upsets, wasp interruptions, and marathon deciders, this clash added another layer of spice—reminding everyone that darts thrives on personality as much as precision.
As the championship rolls on with defending champion Luke Littler and other giants in action, Dobey’s gritty win serves as a timely reminder of the fine line between motivation and aggravation. What could have derailed him instead fueled a vital triumph, propelling ‘Hollywood’ deeper into the festive frenzy at Ally Pally. Fans will be hoping for more blockbuster moments as he chases glory in the world’s premier darts spectacle.
Leave a Reply