DOMINANT DOBEY RACES TO THIRD PROTOUR TITLE OF 2024

Chris Dobey continued his sensational ProTour form in Wigan, defeating Stephen Bunting 8-3 to clinch his third Players Championship title of 2024.

Wednesday's Players Championship 25 showpiece saw the two most recent Masters champions go head-to-head, and it was Dobey who ran out a convincing winner.

The Bedlington thrower performed magnificently at the Robin Park Tennis Centre, averaging 100.95 across his seven matches to extend his lead at the top of the Players Championship Order of Merit.

“Confidence is key,” declared Dobey, who looks poised to head to November’s Players Championship Finals as the top seed.

“I have won a couple of Players Championships already before today, and I know where I am on the Order of Merit.

“Once I saw I was in that number one spot, I set myself the target of being there at the end, and it’s given me the motivation to get on the practice board and start performing like this on a regular basis.

“Coming off the back of the Premier League [last year], I wanted to pick my floor game up, because during the Premier League season, I was struggling to get myself up for these events.

“That had to change this year. I’ve knuckled down and really put the work in, and I’m just delighted to get my floor game back to where it should be.”

Dobey was imperious throughout the afternoon in Wigan, following up an opening round victory over Nathan Rafferty with successive 6-2 wins against William O’Connor and Gabriel Clemens.

The 34-year-old averaged 107 to dispatch the Irishman, and after sweeping aside Clemens, he was forced to come through deciding-leg tussles against Jeffrey de Graaf and Luke Littler.