Who is English darts star Chris Dobey?
CHRIS Dobey’s darts career reached new heights in 2023 when he became Masters champion.
His 2024 isn’t going too badly either, having hit a nine-darter and won three Players Championships so far — but he’ll be hoping for a fairytale ending to the year at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Who is Chris Dobey?
Chris Dobey was born on May 31, 1990, in Bedlington, England.
He is a prominent English professional darts player who has made significant strides on the PDC circuit.
As of December 12, 2024, Chris is ranked as the world No. 15 on the PDC Order of Merit.
Road construction
Before his professional darts career took off, he worked in road construction.
Chris has spoken about the challenges of balancing darts with his previous job, trying to fit in hours of practice after 12-hour night shifts.
In 2017, he said: “Before the Grand Slam in November 2016, I finished work to concentrate on the TV competitions and I’m just doing darts now.
“I worked in traffic management, putting the cones out on motorways around the north-east.
“We would do 12-hour shifts, say 6pm to 6am.
“You would do that for a couple of weeks and then change shifts.
“It was messing with my darts too much, so I just had to give in in the end.
“People would give you grief with the cones but it was our job, we cannot do anything else.
“One of my friends got cans of pop and apples thrown at him or Pot Noodles, something like that. It is a tough job.”
Why is Chris Dobey nicknamed Hollywood?
Chris’ nickname on the oche is “Hollywood”.
He laughed: “It all started off as a little joke. I used to play darts wearing what I wanted.
We would do 12-hour shifts, say 6pm to 6am
Chris Dobey
“Then someone shouted: ‘Who do you think you are — some kind of Hollywood star?’
“It just stuck. It is a stupid reason! Everywhere I went, everyone would say: ‘Hollywood, Hollywood’.
“I would wear shorts, or a baseball cap, whatever I felt comfortable in.”
Chris is a supporter of Newcastle United football club, reflecting his North East roots.
Career highlights
Chris’ career in professional darts has been marked by steady progress and notable achievements including:
- PDC Titles: He has claimed five PDC ranking titles, showcasing his consistency and skill on the professional circuit.
- Masters Champion: In a career-defining moment, Chris clinched the 2023 Masters title, marking his first televised final and victory.
- Premier League Darts: Following his Masters victory, Chris secured a spot in the 2023 Premier League Darts, further cementing his status among the elite players.
- World Championship performances: Chris has made multiple appearances in the PDC World Darts Championship, with his best performances coming in 2023 and 2024, when on both occasions he reached the quarter-finals.
- Players Championship: Chris secured three Players Championship titles (PC07, PC19 and PC25).
- Nine-darter: Chris achieved a nine-dart finish during Players Championship 07 in Leicester in April 2024.
Walk-on music
Chris has had at least three walk-on songs during his pro career.
Firstly it was Kanye West’s All of the Lights.
But in around 2021 he changed it to Hollywood by Andrew Cushin.
And according to the PDC website, it is currently Let’s Get Ready to Rumble by And and Dec.
Exactly when he changed tunes and the reasons why have not been reported.