Darts giants are dropping like flies at Ally Pally but top star explains why it’s no surprise
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. Smith is the highest ranked seeded player to be knocked outGetty Two-time winner Anderson was also defeatedGetty 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.” The 34-year-old has reached the third round this yearGetty 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. Follow talkSPORT 2 for exclusive live coverage of the PDC World Darts Championship
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.
Follow talkSPORT 2 for exclusive live coverage of the PDC World Darts Championship
