Premier League Darts: Wayne Mardle can't believe Chris Dobey wasn't nervous playing Michael van Gerwen in Belfast final

Wayne Mardle: "Tonight proves the outsider of the pack is not necessarily the outsider of the pack" I The Cardiff International Arena hosts the second of 17 individual venues on Thursday, February 9 with the play-offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

By Wayne Mardle, Darts Expert & Columnist @Wayne501Mardle

Wayne Mardle could not quite believe debutant Chris Dobey wasn't nervous against Michael Van Gerwen in the Belfast final

Wayne Mardle found it "mind-boggling" that Premier League debutant 'Hollywood' Chris Dobey wasn't nervous playing Michael van Gerwen in Thursday's Belfast final.

Newly-crowned Masters champion Dobey stunned the field with a hat-trick of victories at a sell-out SSE Arena to cap off a life-changing seven days.

The 32-year-old from Bedlington kicked off Night One with a 6-3 defeat of Peter Wright, before seeing off Nathan Aspinall 6-4 to reach the final.

Dobey landed a 170 checkout in the second leg before stunning six-time defending champion Van Gerwen with a sensational 160 checkout in a deciding leg shoot-out.

Take a look at the best of the action from Night One of the Premier League in Belfast
Dobey says he took confidence from his Masters win as he swept to a sensational victory in Belfast

"You've either got it or you haven't in terms of that ability and because he knows he's got the ability, that panic hasn't set in because he knows he can win," said Sky Sports' analyst, Mardle.

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"That Masters win is going to be the catalyst for we don't know, but it's a catalyst for tonight most definitely.

"Now he's settled in the Premier League. I'm going to say Michael van Gerwen has settled and probably Dimitri Van den Bergh. The others? Maybe not, but that was an amazing win.

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"I thought he was nervy in the last leg because he was hitting 60, then missing, 60 first dart, then missing. But then left the 160 and he didn't look nervy one bit.

"Every mistake Michael van Gerwen made, Chris Dobey punished him and at the moment things are going his way but he's creating that for himself."

Mardle continued: "I love seeing new winners, especially talented players that are finally getting their just desserts. We saw it in the worlds with Michael Smith and now Chris Dobey.

"He's been a great player for a long time but those little small increments of quality and consistency, it's not even the consistency. He's better. His all-round game is better. This is what happens so good luck to him."

The Bedlington thrower produced this magical 160 finish to beat Van Gerwen in the final of Night One
Dobey also nailed this incredible 170 finish in the final

Dobey, who was only announced in the Premier League field on Monday, capped a memorable night with a Hollywood ending. The 160 finish in Thursday night's final left Mardle totally gobsmacked.

"He knows his own ability and like he said, he wasn't nervous which is just mind-boggling to me. Yeah, crack on Chris," said 'Hawaii 501'.

"I still think Michael van Gerwen is still the man to beat though and they know he's still the man to beat, but tonight proves the outsider of the pack is not necessarily the outsider of the pack."

2023 Premier League Schedule

Night 2 Cardiff International Arena February 9
Night 3 OVO Hydro, Glasgow February 16
Night 4 3Arena, Dublin February 23
Night 5 Westpoint Exeter March 2
Night 6 The Brighton Centre March 9
Night 7 Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham March 16
Night 8 Utilita Arena, Newcastle March 23
Night 9 Mercedes-Benz Arena, Berlin March 30
Night 10 Utilita Arena, Birmingham April 6
Night 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool April 13
Night 12 Rotterdam Ahoy April 20
Night 13 First Direct Arena, Leeds April 27
Night 14 AO Arena, Manchester May 4
Night 15 Utilita Arena, Sheffield May 11
Night 16 P&J Live, Aberdeen May 18
Play-Offs The O2, London May 25

We're back for more Premier League Darts action from the Cardiff International Arena on Thursday, February 9 - live on Sky Sports Arena from 7pm and Sky Sports Main Event from 7.30pm.

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