Price Powers Past Dobey for Players Championship 2 Glory

Following Rob Cross’s triumph in Players Championship 1 on Monday, the focus shifted to Players Championship 2, once again held at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. The player field remained largely the same, with just two changes. Luke Humphries withdrew on his 30th birthday, making way for PDC veteran Mervyn King via a Challenge Tour call-up. Meanwhile, Ted Evetts also had to step aside due to the Challenge Tour quota, allowing Tour Card holder Matt Dennant to reclaim his spot.

Price after claiming the Players Championship 2 Title

Early Rounds: Greaves Stuns, Gilding Fires, Kenny Impresses

The opening rounds saw some big performances and high averages. Yesterday’s semi-finalist, Andrew Gilding, delivered a dominant display, averaging 107.91 in a 6-1 demolition of Jelle Klaasen. Meanwhile, Beau Greaves made history by securing her first-ever Players Championship round 1 win, edging out World No. 17 Josh Rock 6-5. Greaves averaged an impressive 102.77, holding her nerve as she came from 5-3 down to clinch victory with an 11-dart leg. She showcased her level of ability, and by playing more of these events, she can mix it with some of the very best on the tour.

Nick Kenny also stood out with an unexpected run to the last 16. Having narrowly retained his Tour Card after his World Championship performance, Kenny showcased his talent by defeating Canada’s No. 1 Matt Campbell 6-3, before whitewashing five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 with a 102.48 average. He then dispatched two-time world champion Peter Wright 6-2. Kenny’s run ended in a close 6-5 loss to Pro Tour No. 1 seed Dave Chisnall, but the Welshman’s form bodes well for his season ahead in rising up the rankings.

Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals: Price Edges Littler, Dobey Rolls On

The quarter-finals featured a blockbuster clash between 2021 World Champion Gerwyn Price and reigning World Champion Luke Littler. In a gripping contest, Price edged out Littler 6-5, averaging 102.32 to Littler’s 100.88. Both players led at different points, but with Littler 5-4 ahead and throwing for the match, Price produced a stunning 11-dart break. He then sealed victory with a 14-darter, extending his head-to-head lead over Littler to 5-4.

Elsewhere, Ryan Searle cruised past World Youth Champion Gian van Veen 6-3, while Ross Smith brushed aside an off-form Dave Chisnall 6-2. Chris Dobey fought back from 4-1 down to defeat Florian Hempel 6-5, setting up a semi-final showdown with Ross Smith.

In the last four, Price battled past Searle 7-5 in a high-quality encounter. Price led 3-1 before Searle clawed back to 5-5. However, missed doubles in the 11th leg cost Searle dearly, and Price capitalised, winning the last two legs to book his place in the final.

Meanwhile, Dobey overcame Smith 7-4 after storming into a 5-1 lead. Though Smith rallied to reduce the deficit, Dobey closed out the match with a 14-darter, setting up a rematch of his recent Premier League clash with Price.

Road to the Final: Price vs. Dobey: The Journey

Both players overcame top opposition to set up a thrilling final. Here’s how they got there:

Gerwyn Price’s Path to the Final:	Chris Dobey’s Path to the Final:
Last 128: (6-2) vs William Borland	Last 128: (6-2) vs Chris Landman
Last 64: (6-2) vs Danny Lauby	Last 64: (6-1) vs Jose De Sousa
Last 32: (6-2) vs Jonny Clayton	Last 32: (6-1) vs Callan Rydz
Last 16: (6-4) vs Martin Schindler	Last 16: (6-4) vs Kim Huybrechts
Quarter-Final: (6-5) vs Luke Littler	Quarter-Final: (6-5) vs Florian Hempel
Semi-Final: (7-5) vs Ryan Searle	Semi-Final: (7-4) vs Ross Smith

🏆 The Final: Price’s Ice-Cool Comeback Seals the Title

Chris Dobey dominated the early exchanges, racing into a 3-1 lead before stretching his advantage to 6-3. Outscoring Price heavily, he looked in control and had four darts at double for a 7-3 cushion.

But one leg changed everything. Price punished Dobey’s wayward finishing with a clinical 78 checkout, sparking a stunning comeback. The Welshman reeled off four consecutive legs to take a 7-6 lead, turning the match on its head.

Dobey regrouped to force a deciding leg at 7-7, but his nerves showed when a 124 checkout attempt started with a stray dart into single 1. Price, ever the competitor, closed out the match with a composed 25 finish, sealing a hard-fought 8-7 victory.

This win marked Price’s first ranking title in over a year, reinforcing his resurgence. With a tournament average of 99.82 and key wins over Littler, Searle, and Clayton, he sent a clear message—The Iceman is back. His triumph also boosts him to World No. 8, leapfrogging Damon Heta in the rankings.

Talking Points & Highlights

💥 Biggest Surprise: Players Championship 1 winner Rob Cross suffered an early 1st round exit, losing 6-1 to Mickey Mansell in a lacklustre display (90.87 average).

🎯 Highest Average: Andrew Gilding posted a sensational 107.91 in his first-round win over former BDO World Champion Jelle Klaasen.

🔥 Hempel Heroics: Florian Hempel reached a Players Championship quarter-final for the first time since August 2024, defeating Killington, Mansell, Rafferty, and Ratajski before falling to Dobey. The German will look to build on this result to break into TV majors consistently.

🌟 Statement Victory: Price’s title win suggests a return to close to his top form. His work with a sports psychologist recently appears to be paying off, and this result could be a springboard for major title wins in 2025.

🎙️ What Was Said: Gerwyn Price’s Reaction

[Gerwyn Price to PDC.tv]: “It’s nice to win on the ProTour again.”

“I think Chris played better than me in that final, but I hung in there until the end.”

“Today has been brilliant. Yesterday I played really well too; I’m getting back to my best.

“I’m enjoying the game more. I think my mentality and the way I think have changed, and it has just benefitted me.

“I had a little bit of help with a sports psychologist before the World Championship, which really helped.

“There’s a lot more positivity in my game now, and it seems to be working!

“I know how well I am playing, but when it comes to the big games sometimes, I am trying too hard because I want it too much.

“This is what I needed. This win will hopefully make things come a little bit easier because when you’re winning you don’t try too hard."

📅 What’s Next?

The PDC calendar rolls on with Premier League Night 2 in Glasgow on Thursday, February 13, where both Price and Dobey will be back in action under the bright lights.

Attention then shifts back to the Players Championship Tour as the circuit heads to Rosmalen, Netherlands, for Players Championships 3 & 4 on February 17-18—marking the first floor events outside the UK this season.

With form building and ranking points at stake, expect more high-quality action as the race for titles continues.

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