The quarter-finals of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship kicked off on January 1st at Alexandra Palace, featuring some of the biggest names and rising talents from the world of darts. The excitement surrounding this year's tournament has been palpable, especially with the matches involving Chris Dobey, Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, and Callan Rydz. Each player brought their A-game, showcasing both skill and mental resilience.
Chris Dobey, fresh from his remarkable victory over Gerwyn Price, is riding high on confidence. The match was nothing short of dramatic, with Dobey overcoming early jitters to secure the win with a score of 5-3. Reflecting on his performance, Dobey shared, "It’s at the top [of my list of achievements]. Getting over the defeat last year and getting over the line means a lot. I’ve never been so nervous throwing at a winning double as I was today. It reminded me of last year, but I thought, just keep going, you’ll get another chance, and thankfully I got over the line." His grit and determination proved pivotal, especially as he recalled the heartbreak of his previous quarter-final loss to Rob Cross.
Price, known as the Iceman, started strong, taking the early lead, but his inability to find the doubles cost him dearly. Remarkably, he missed 42 attempts throughout the match, which proved too high of a hurdle to clear against the resurgent Dobey. The match was tightly contested, with Price holding his ground until Dobey's powerful performance began to shift the momentum. After Dobey secured his first set, he surged with five consecutive legs to lead 4-2. Price made attempts to rally but was unable to capitalize, allowing Dobey to drill through to the semi-finals with impressive scoring and timely finishes.
Meanwhile, the excitement continued with Michael van Gerwen facing off against Callan Rydz. Van Gerwen, aiming to clinch his fourth world title, expressed his determination, stating, "My experience is going to help against Callan. He has played some phenomenal darts, but I need to make sure I am doing the right things for myself and putting him under pressure." Rydz, on the other hand, has been on fire throughout the tournament, showcasing strong averages and resilience against solid opponents. He has been confidently pushing through the rounds and is certainly one to watch.
Before the quarter-finals commenced, the players prepared with everything on the line. Dobey's story has been particularly inspiring this year. There was palpable pressure on him as he faced Price again, this time not willing to let the past haunt him. After his exhilarating comeback, Dobey was thrilled, noting the significance of the support from his fans, adding, "I’m buzzing to get the win, and I wouldn’t have done it without these guys."
The stakes were high not just for the players but for fans eager for new champions after last year's defending titleholder, Luke Humphries, was eliminated early on. Fans are flocking to Alexandra Palace, excited to see if Dobey's impressive form can carry through as he heads to the semis for the first time.
Throughout the day, there remained uncertainty about who would prevail, especially considering the string of surprises this championship has already produced. The thrilling atmosphere showed no signs of dwindling as the tournament progressed, and anticipation built for the remaining matches. Fans were treated to top-notch darts with both experience and fresh talent vying for glory on the world stage.
With the result of Dobey's match marking him as one of the significant contenders left, the rest of the quarter-finals are sure to deliver, with Rydz ready to test Van Gerwen. Can Rydz upset the odds against the three-time champion? The answer is forthcoming as the matches carry on.