Debutant Chris Dobey enjoyed a dream start to his 2023 Cazoo Premier League campaign, sealing an opening night win with a sensational 160 checkout to defeat reigning champion Michael van Gerwen on Night One in Belfast.
Newly-crowned Masters champion Dobey stunned the field with a hat-trick of victories at a sell-out SSE Arena to cap off a life-changing seven days for the 32-year-old.
Dobey, who twice starred as a Challenger in the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Premier League, kicked off with a 6-3 defeat of world number two Peter Wright, before seeing off Nathan Aspinall 6-4 to reach the final.
A captivating final, which saw Dobey land a 170 checkout in the second leg, went all the way to a deciding leg, with Dobey landing a sensational 160 checkout to take the five league points.
“I’m living the dream,” said a delighted Dobey.
“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.”
Van Gerwen picks up three league points thanks to victories over Michael Smith – in their first meeting since the World Championship final – and Dimitri Van den Bergh to go second on the embryonic table.
Elsewhere, semi-finalists Aspinall and Van den Bergh leave Belfast with two points apiece thanks to quarter-final wins over Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton respectively.
Ealier in the evening came a special moment when Northern Ireland native Josh Rock was presented with his Moneybarn Best Newcomer and Winmau Young Player of the Year trophies by Wayne Mardle in Belfast on Thursday.
The Cazoo 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.
The night’s other quarter-finals will see Aspinall face Wright, while Van Gerwen takes on Van den Bergh.
Tickets for Night Two in Cardiff are sold out.
2023 Cazoo Premier League
Night One – Thursday February 2
The SSE Arena, Belfast
Quarter-Finals
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2 Jonny Clayton
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Michael Smith
Chris Dobey 6-3 Peter Wright
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Gerwyn Price
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Chris Dobey 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Final
Chris Dobey 6-5 Michael van Gerwen
Night Two – Thursday February 9
Cardiff International Arena
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith v Jonny Clayton
Nathan Aspinall v Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price v Chris Dobey
Michael van Gerwen v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Semi-Finals
Smith/Clayton v Aspinall/Wright
Price/Dobey v Van Gerwen/Van den Bergh
Final
v
All matches are best of 11 legs
—–ENDS—–
Images: Michael Cooper/PDC
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