Chris Dobey qualified for the quarterfinals of the World Darts Championship on Friday for the first time in his career. The Englishman prevailed in the fourth round in six sets with compatriot Rob Cross: 4-2. Stephen Bunting also joined the final eight.
The 32-year-old Dobey decided the game with his seventh dart and is next opponent Michael van Gerwen, who easily settled with Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Throughout the game, it was fairly even between Dobey and Cross, the 2018 world champion. Dobey had a slightly better average with three arrows (101.82 vs. 100.02), while Cross had a better finishing percentage (32 .5% against 36.67%).
For Dobey it is the first time that he is in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The number 22 of the Order of Merit has been in the fourth round three times in his career, but has always fallen.
Even Bunting in the quarterfinals
In the final match of round four, Bunting was surprisingly too strong for world number five Luke Humphries in five sets. Humphries fell short on all counts against No. 21 on the Order of Merit, taking just one set.
Bunting is in the quarterfinals at Alexandra Palace for the second time in his career with victory over his compatriot. Two years ago he even reached the semifinals, where he lost to future world champion Gerwyn Price.
In addition to Dobey, Bunting and Van Gerwen, Price, Jonny Clayton, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Gabriel Clemens and Michael Smith also have a chance to win the world title. They’ve already secured a place in the final eight.
The quarterfinals of the tournament will begin after the end of the year. All eight remaining participants will be in action on January 1st. The final is on January 3, 2023.
