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Chris Dobey says he is thrilled to be returning to darts’ Premier League on the back of his best-ever run at the PDC World Championship.
Dobey made it to the semi-finals where he was beaten by Michael van Gerwen in the tournament won by teenage sensation Luke Littler.
The Northumberland-born player, 34, was handed one of the four wildcards on offer for the 17-week event – his second appearance after featuring in 2023.
“It’s brilliant, I can’t thank them (the PDC) enough,” Dobey told BBC Radio Newcastle.
Dobey is up to 10th in the PDC Order of Merit after his run to the last four at Alexandra Palace, but he has been picked above players ranked higher on that list.
Dobey, nicknamed Hollywood, will compete in front of his home fans when the Premier League comes to Newcastle on 27 March.
He has won five PDC ranking titles including the Masters two years ago and he came seventh on his Premier League debut in 2023.
And he is backing himself to step up to the challenge of facing Littler, van Gerwen, Luke Humphries, Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall in the competition which begins in Belfast next month.
“You’re playing with the elite week-in, week-out in amazing venues and amazing cities,” he said.
“The first time I did it, I loved it and I felt like I belonged there.
“It’s just magnificent being on TV on the big stages every week. The Premier League brought my game on even more and I’m hoping I can produce it regularly on the big stage.”
