The year 2025 PDC World Darts Championships it’s been full of surprises so far. After the Christmas break, the third round begins on Friday, with only 18 of the 32 seeded players taking part. Likes Michael Smith, Rob KrzyżaDave Chisnall, James Wade, Gary Anderson and others have already fallen at Alexandra Palace.
Every year there are surprises in the opening rounds of the World Darts Championship, but this year it’s amazing how many seeds have already been dropped. In addition to the names already mentioned, other top players also like them Raymond van Barneveld, Danny Noppert, Mike Decker AND Ritchie Edhousethe latter two, who won their first major title earlier this year, were also eliminated straight away in their first match. However, he was the one who survived the first hurdle Chris Dobey. The 34-year-old Englishman defeated Alexander Merkx 3-1 in the second round, and now he will face Josh Rock.
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That so many seeds must have already fallen off comes as no surprise to Dobey himself. “For me and a few other guys, it’s not a surprise, because this year anyone can beat anyone on the court,” he says in the program TalkSports. “The level is so high now that nothing is a shock to us. This is for you because you suspect Gary and he’s doing well. But the current level is absurd and anyone can beat anyone.”
Chris Dobey in action at the World Darts Championships
As already mentioned, Dobey himself survived a potentially difficult first test, also performing brilliantly in the opening match of the World Darts Championship, averaging over 95 points. “To be honest, I’m very happy with where my game is at,” he adds. “I was a little bad at doubles the other night, but if I can hit doubles early, I think I can go really deep in the competition, I feel confident.”
