Chris Dobey has explained why this year’s PDC World Championship big-name exits are not all that surprising.
A number of top seed stars have faced early defeats during the first week of darts action in this year’s tournament at Alexandra Palace.
Michael Smith, who is seeded second and became world champion in 2023, was beaten 3-2 by Kevin Doets on Thursday evening.
Saturday saw five-time champion Raymond van Barneveld dumped out by Nick Kenny.
And the following evening, 14th seed Gary Anderson lost 3-0 against Jeffrey de Graaf.
Two-time champion Anderson has become the 11th top seeded player from 24 who have played so far to be knocked out before round three.
However, 15th seed Dobey has told talkSPORT that these exits are not that surprising to him given the amount of quality at the oche.
Speaking on Breakfast, he said: “For the likes of myself and a few of the other lads, it’s no surprise because on floor this year, anybody can beat anybody.
“The standard is so high now so nothing to us is kind of a shock. It is for you guys because you suspect Gary and that to do well. But the standard now is ridiculous and everybody can beat anybody.”
But Dobey appears confident that he won’t suffer the same fate as his fellow seeded players.
He added: “Honestly I’m so happy with where my game’s at.
“I was a bit scrappy on the doubles the other night but if I can hit my doubles sooner, then I think I can go really deep in the competition, I’m feeling confident.”
Seeded players knocked out of the 2025 PDC World Championship
Michael Smith [2] – beaten 3-2 by Kevin Doets
Danny Noppert [13] – beaten 3-1 by Ryan Joyce
Gary Anderson [14] – beaten 3-0 by Jeffrey de Graaf
James Wade [16] – beaten 3-0 by Jermaine Wattimena
Ross Smith [19] – beaten 3-0 by Paolo Nebrida
Martin Schindler [22] – beaten 3-0 by Callan Rydz
Mike De Decker [24] – beaten 3-1 by Luke Woodhouse
Dirk van Duijvenbode [25] – beaten 3-1 by Madars Razma
Gabriel Clemens [27] – beaten 3-1 by Robert Owen
Ritchie Edhouse [29] – beaten 3-1 by Ian White
Raymond van Barneveld [32] – beaten 3-1 by Nick Kenny
Dobey has reached the third round of the World Championship for a seventh consecutive year after he beat Alexander Merkx 3-1.
He led the first two sets and despite Merkx hitting back in the third, the 34-year-old sealed the deal in the fourth.
The winner of Josh Rock vs Rhys Griffin this afternoon will face Dobey in the next round following the Christmas break.
Smith’s conqueror Doets will then be a potential opponent in the fourth round as the number of players remaining whittles down.
Third and fourth round matches will see the number of sets increase from a best of five to a best of seven, with four needed to win.
Should Dobey progress through both of these, he will reach a third consecutive quarter-final at Ally Pally.