Chris Dobey has beaten Rob Cross to be crowned Cazoo Masters champion in the first televised darts final of the 32-year-old’s career.
Despite a late hiccough which saw him nearly surrender a commanding lead, Dobey was in control throughout the match and thoroughly deserved his 11-7 victory.
After the tie, the Newcastle-born star said: “I’m lost for words. The crowd’s been magnificent all weekend. I’ve just plodded along and finished well, took my chances, a bit nervy at the end, but a win’s a win.
READ MORE: Rob Cross ‘gave up’ in sudden death leg before recovering to reach Masters final
“I’ve got a lot of support back home, I can’t thank them enough.”
For the third consecutive year the Masters has produced a relative outsider as winner, with Dobey following in the footsteps of Joe Cullen in 2022 and Jonny Clayton in 2021.
Fans on social media were thrilled for Dobey, with one tweeting: “What a player he was this weekend! Amazing stuff and if you’d said at the start of 2022 that in the space of a year Ross Smith, Danny Noppert & Chris Dobey would be majors champions I wouldn’t have believed you. The beauty of darts.”
What did you make of Dobey’s performance? Let us know in the comments section below.
“Pleased for this lad even though he beat my favourite Rob,” commented another, while a third said: “So happy for Chris Dobey. Secured a Premier League spot now for sure as well.”
Earlier in the night, Dobey got the better of an off-colour Michael Smith in the semi-final, beating the world champion 11-7.
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