North East darts star Chris Dobey is "buzzing" to be part of the 2025 Premier League Darts line-up alongside world champion Luke Littler. The eight-strong line-up was announced on Monday, with Bedlington-born Dobey joined by Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, Gerwen Price, Stephen Bunting, and Nathan Aspinall for the prestigious tournament.
The league stage moves around the country, with the excitement building for the event set to be held at Newcastle later on March 27. "I'm buzzing to be part of it, it's another step in the right direction for my career," Dobey told The Northern Echo. He added, "You get to play with the elite week in, week out. You play at the big, massive arenas, and it's one event everyone keeps an eye on. It's similar to the World Championships. Everybody wants to be watching the Premier League."
Dobey, who is also known by his nickname 'Hollywood', has had words of congratulations from Glen Durrant, another North East star and former Premier League winner, who sent him a message of support following the announcement. Dobey jokingly remarked his desire to win, stating he hopes to "get Glen off my back!"
Looking forward to returning to Newcastle Arena, he expressed how playing before his home crowd is "unbelievable" and something he eagerly anticipates. "It's something special, and something I'm definitely looking forward to," he noted. Showing his local pride, Dobey plans to change his walk-on song back to the Geordie anthem 'Local Hero', which he previously used for his appearances at Newcastle during Premier League nights.
Not everything is smooth sailing, as the announcement sparked discontent among some darts fans who were unhappy with the exclusion of players such as World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker and UK Open champion Dimitri van den Bergh. Speaking about this, Dobey shared, "It is a hard one to take. I was in the same situation last year when I felt I played pretty well consistently but was overlooked. But they make their decisions for their own reasons. I thought Mike was in with a good shout, but I think if he would have gone a couple of steps farther in the World Championships, he would have been involved. But I’m sure they’ll be back tougher and stronger than ever and wanting to get back there."
The Premier League kicks off with its first match scheduled for Belfast on February 6, marking the start of what promises to be another thrilling season of darts.
Littler, the reigning Premier League champion, will face tough competition, including world number one Luke Humphries and former champion Michael van Gerwen. These players earned automatic entry based on their top-four ranking within the PDC's Order of Merit, with Price, Bunting, Dobey, and Aspinall entering as wild cards.
The weekly tournament will take place every Thursday night from February to May 2025, with matches spread across various cities including Belfast, Glasgow, Dublin, and Newcastle. The finale is set to occur at the O2 Arena in London on May 29.
For each match night, players will face off in eight-player knockout rounds with varying points awarded based on performance. Each winner receives five points, runners-up earn three, and two points go to each of the semi-final losers. Following week 16, the top four will contest the semi-finals and finals, promising fierce competition and exciting displays of skill from the world’s best.
Looking at the previously mentioned notable exclusions, their absence highlights the competitive nature of selecting participants for such high-stakes events within the Premier League circuit. Particularly, world ranking changes can significantly influence athlete selection, as demonstrated by the cases of Michael Smith and Peter Wright, both of whom struggled during the past season and did not make the final cut this time.
Matt Porter, the Chief Executive of PDC, commented on the selection process, stating, "Obviously with Price, Dobey and Aspinall, there are players above them in the rankings who haven't been selected but we have looked at it in terms of big stage presence, popularity, and the way they can get a 10,000-person crowd every Thursday going. We want people on the edge of their seats. We want people up and enjoying their darts." This commitment to delivering compelling entertainment for fans is at the crux of the Premier League ethos.
This season could garner special interest due to the combination of rising stars and seasoned veterans, alongside the appealing narrative of Dunbar-born Dobey and his aspirations to capitalize on this opportunity.
With all of these dynamics at play, anticipation is building for the 2025 Premier League Darts season. Fans and players alike are eagerly awaiting the competition to begin, with hopes high for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament filled with top-notch performances and unforgettable moments, all culminating at the O2 Arena later this year.