CHRIS DOBEY has named the player he prefers to avoid in big tournament – and it’s not one of the big three.
The Premier League Darts star is rubbing shoulders with Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries in this year’s tournament.
Hollywood sits seventh after Week 4 in Exeter, with three points to his name.
Dobey made the final on opening night in Belfast – but has failed to get past the quarter finals since.
The 34-year-old hails from Bedlington, just north of Newcastle.
And he claims Ryan Joyce – his fellow Geordie – is the player he doesn’t want to face when on form.
Joyce reached the semi-final of last year’s Grand Prix, showing his prowess on the doubles.
Dobey said: “The Grand Prix, that’s all bread and butter from the North East.
“It’s what we play on regular basis. And for Ryan [Joyce], that’s his competition. He’s just a down to earth lad as well.
“He’s not wanting to big himself up. He knows how good he is, but he doesn’t like the short as well, which I think is a good thing.
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“You’re definitely going to start seeing the best of Ryan as well, because he’s finally getting to that scoring power that he’s been missing.
“He’s always been great on the finishing side, but his scoring power is coming through now. I want to dodge him if I can!”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Luke Littler destroys James Wade in UK Darts Open final as rival barely avoids whitewash” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369535652112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The Premier League Darts heads to Brighton on Thursday night for Week 5.
Dobey has a tough draw in the quarter-finals, facing Rob Cross in his opening match.
Reigning champion Littler will again be the man to beat after he lifted the UK Open crowd on Sunday.
[boxout headline=”Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues”]Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – Manchester: Aspinall beat Humphries 6-4
Night 11 – Rotterdam: Dobey beat Bunting 6-2
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
The Nuke beat James Wade 11-2 in a one-sided final.
He said: “It’s obviously one I’ve wanted to win. It’s my third time here.
“I came here two years ago as a 16-year-old.
“Last year quarter-final and I’ve gone two better this year to win it.”