Chris Dobey is brimming with confidence ahead of his World Matchplay return in Blackpool this weekend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Off the back of two ProTour titles in 2026, it has been a good year so far for Hollywood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since Dobey gained his Tour Card in 2015, he has played in the 2023 and 2025 Premier League campaigns after featuring as a contender in 2019 and challenger in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 36-year-old\u2019s first PDC final came in 2016, where he was beaten by Simon Whitlock in the final of Players Championship 19, but has since won 11 titles in the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His most notable victory was his 2023 Masters victory in Milton Keynes, defeating Rob Cross 11-7 in the final to claim his first major title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Geordie will look to go beyond his best World Matchplay result of a quarter-final in 2023 as he returns to Blackpool for his seventh appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He takes on Dirk van Duijvenbode in round one game, and the Bedforshire-born star assessed his chances in Blackpool after the draw was completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve played him numerous times now and we’re similar players – very big scorers and it’s all about the doubles on the day,\u201d said Dobey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI’m playing some great stuff at the moment and it’s taking good performances to beat me, so I’m happy with my form going into the World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel confident that I can have a good run in Blackpool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Van Duijvenbode is known for his monstrous scoring and in particular his nine-darters, of which he hit an impressive tally of four on the tour in 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pair met in Leverkusen at the European Darts Open last weekend and the Dutchman emerged victorious, triumphing 6-2 after Dobey hit just 25% of his double attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Van Duijvenbode is yet to win a title so far in 2026, he came close after finishing runner-up to a vintage Michael van Gerwen at Players Championship 15 in Leicester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dobey, meanwhile, is looking forward to his upcoming round one battle, eyeing a fourth successive win in his opening match at the iconic Winter Gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m looking forward to that one and I’ve got to knuckle down, get to work and brush our friendship aside,\u201d said Dobey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt’s a great venue, the most iconic venue and it’s probably my favourite tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe fans are fantastic, respectful and a great crowd and it’s up there as one of the best events we have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Krzysztof Ratajski added a third European Tour title to his name in Leverkusen last weekend, as he overcame Jermaine Wattimena in the final with a solid display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Polish number one was delighted with his success in the European Darts Open, and revealed it was more than he had expected heading into Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t expect it. I would have been happy with the last eight or last four, so to win the title is more than I expected,\u201d admitted Ratajski.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ratajski – a former Gibraltar Darts Trophy and German Darts Open winner – kicked off his campaign with victory over German star Max Hopp, before dumping out world number three Gian van Veen in the last 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former World Matchplay semi-finalist also accounted for reigning champion Nathan Aspinall before he saw off fellow countryman Sebastian Bialecki in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was very difficult for me. I\u2019m really happy. I don\u2019t know what to say,\u201d continued Ratajski,who averaged 100.40 in his comeback win over Bialecki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe played against each other one week ago and it was very close, 6-5 to me, and Sebastian showed on this stage many times how good he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI expect many finals for him and many wins.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ratajski also reflected on his encounter with reigning European Champion Van Veen, with the pair set to go head-to-head in the opening round of the World Matchplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I beat my opponent in Blackpool [Van Veen] but it\u2019s a different tournament, a different day,\u201d added Ratajski, a World Championship quarter-finalist in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will do my best in Blackpool. I hope I will play well and hopefully I can win that first match. We will see.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 49-year-old goes into this clash as the underdog, but is no stranger to a deep run at the Winter Gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2021, he reached the semi-finals before succumbing to Dimitri Van den Bergh, dispatching Brendan Dolan, Luke Humphries and Callan Rydz along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, with another European Tour title under his belt, Poland\u2019s premier player will be full of confidence ahead of his return to the seaside.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chris Dobey is brimming with confidence ahead of his World Matchplay return in Blackpool this weekend Off the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-14827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-darts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t