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Premier League Darts: Debutant Chris Dobey stuns Michael van Gerwen to win opening night in Belfast

Chris Dobey enjoys a dream Premier League debut by defeating Michael van Gerwen in the Belfast final I The Cardiff International Arena hosts the second of 17 individual venues on Thursday, February 9 with the play-offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

Last Updated: 03/02/23 9:01am

Take a look at the best of the action from Night One of the Premier League in Belfast

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Take a look at the best of the action from Night One of the Premier League in Belfast
Take a look at the best of the action from Night One of the Premier League in Belfast

Chris Dobey made a dream Premier League debut as he stunned six-time defending champion Michael van Gerwen to win the opening night of action in Belfast.

Dobey claimed his first major PDC title by winning the Masters in Milton Keynes which helped him gatecrash the cast list for this year's Premier League.

The 32-year-old from Bedlington produced a Hollywood-style ending after defeating two-time former world champion Peter Wright in the quarter-finals and then sending Nathan Aspinall crashing out to reach the final where he upset favourite Van Gerwen.

Premier League - Night 1 in Belfast Results

Quarter-finals Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2 Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith 3-6 Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright 3-6 Chris Dobey
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Semi-finals Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
Chris Dobey 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Final Chris Dobey 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
  • Premier League Darts: Fixtures and results
  • PDC calendar - key dates and fixtures!
  • The best leg ever? | Smith hits nine-darter in World Final!
Dobey took out this majestic 170 finish against Van Gerwen in the final

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Dobey took out this majestic 170 finish against Van Gerwen in the final
Dobey took out this majestic 170 finish against Van Gerwen in the final

A captivating final, which saw Dobey reel in a 170 checkout in the second leg, went all the way to a deciding leg with Dobey landing a sensational 160 checkout to cap a memorable week.

"I'm living the dream," said a delighted Dobey, who twice starred as a Challenger in the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Premier League.

"The 160 checkout had to go because Michael was waiting on 127 and he's well capable of taking that out.

"Michael has got a great record against me, and it gets in your head, but I knew I could do it after beating him on TV for the first time at the European Championship.

"I know what I can do, and right now my confidence is sky high.

"I felt that I deserved my place in the tournament, I didn't have anything to prove to myself but I think I've proved a few people wrong tonight.

"I'm getting a taste of it now and I love it. I want to be here all the time."

Dobey produced a Hollywood ending in the deciding leg to win Night One

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Dobey produced a Hollywood ending in the deciding leg to win Night One
Dobey produced a Hollywood ending in the deciding leg to win Night One

Van Gerwen picked up three league points after gaining sweet revenge over Michael Smith in their first meeting since the World Championship final, and Dimitri Van den Bergh to go second on the embryonic table.

Losing semi-finalists Aspinall and Van den Bergh left Belfast with two points each thanks to quarter-final wins over Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton respectively.

The Bedlington thrower says he took confidence from his Masters win to claim victory on his Premier League debut

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The Bedlington thrower says he took confidence from his Masters win to claim victory on his Premier League debut
The Bedlington thrower says he took confidence from his Masters win to claim victory on his Premier League debut
  • 'I can't speak, I can't speak!' | Mardle goes berserk after Smith nine-darter
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  • Follow us @skysportsdarts I Love The Darts Podcast

A week in the life of Chris Dobey


Sunday - Crowned Masters Champion

Monday - Announced in the 2023 Premier League

Thursday - Wins in Belfast on full debut

"You've either got it or you haven't in terms of that ability. He's knows he's got the ability so that panic hasn't set it. That Masters win is the catalyst for we don't know, but it's the catalyst for tonight. That was an amazing win. He didn't look nervy on the 160 but he's creating that for himself. I love seeing new winners. Dobey has been a great player for a long time. Good luck to him. He wasn't nervous, which is mind-boggling, but crack on Chris."

Wayne Mardle on Chris Dobey

Where are we heading next?

Night 2 in Cardiff: Thursday, February 9

Quarter-Finals Michael Smith vs Jonny Clayton
Nathan Aspinall vs Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price vs Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

The Premier League roadshow heads to Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena on Thursday, February 9 for Night Two of the league phase, as Welsh duo Price and Clayton face Dobey and Smith respectively in the quarter-finals.

Also See:

  • Premier League Darts: Fixtures and results
  • Mardle answers key Premier League Darts questions: MVG to do it again?
  • The best leg ever? | Smith hits nine-darter in World Final!
  • Darts in 2023: Key dates and fixtures for the year ahead

The night's other quarter-finals will see Aspinall face Wright, while Van Gerwen takes on Van den Bergh.

2023 Premier League Schedule

Night 2 Cardiff International Arena February 9
Night 3 OVO Hydro, Glasgow February 16
Night 4 3Arena, Dublin February 23
Night 5 Westpoint Exeter March 2
Night 6 The Brighton Centre March 9
Night 7 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham March 16
Night 8 Utilita Arena, Newcastle March 23
Night 9 Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin March 30
Night 10 Utilita Arena, Birmingham April 6
Night 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool April 13
Night 12 Rotterdam Ahoy April 20
Night 13 First Direct Arena, Leeds April 27
Night 14 AO Arena, Manchester May 4
Night 15 Utilita Arena, Sheffield May 11
Night 16 P&J Live, Aberdeen May 18
Play-Offs The O2, London May 25

We're back for more Premier League Darts action from the Cardiff International Arena on Thursday, February 9 - live on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 7.30pm.

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