LONDON – Chris Dobey has issued a stark warning to the world of professional darts, insisting that the sport’s current obsession with Luke Humphries and Luke Littler is overshadowing a host of other serious contenders.
The Bedlington thrower, known as “Hollywood” for his big-stage flair, did not hold back in a pre-tournament interview ahead of this week’s Players Championship event. While acknowledging the remarkable achievements of world champion Humphries and teenage sensation Littler, Dobey made it clear he is tired of the narrative that the sport’s major trophies are already spoken for.
“It’s NOT only them!” Dobey said emphatically. “I’ve watched the coverage, I’ve read the headlines. You’d think the only two names on the trophy are Humphries and Littler. It’s disrespectful to the rest of the dressing room.”
Dobey, who has enjoyed a consistent rise up the PDC Order of Merit, pointed to his own recent form, which includes a run to the quarter-finals of the World Championship and a series of high-quality floor tournament performances. He also named a host of other elite players being unfairly overlooked.
“What about Michael Smith? What about Michael van Gerwen? Gerwyn Price? Nathan Aspinall?” Dobey continued. “We’ve all been putting in the work. Just because there’s a new headline act doesn’t mean the rest of us have forgotten how to win.”
The 33-year-old’s frustration is shared by several of his peers. In recent months, much of the sport’s media coverage and fan discourse has been dominated by Humphries’ relentless consistency and Littler’s explosive, televised dominance. The pair have met in multiple high-profile finals, leading some pundits to dub the era “The Two Lukes.”
However, Dobey warned that writing off the chasing pack would be a grave mistake.
“Form is temporary. Class is permanent,” he said. “And there’s a lot of class in that top 16. I’ve beaten both of them before, and I’ll beat them again. People forget that on any given night, anyone can beat anyone. That’s darts.”
When asked if his comments were intended as a direct challenge to Humphries and Littler, Dobey smiled.
“It’s not personal. They’re great players, and they deserve the spotlight they’ve earned,” he said. “But the rest of us aren’t just here to make up the numbers. We’re here to win. So enjoy the hype, but don’t be surprised when one of ‘the others’ lifts the trophy.”
Dobey begins his campaign on Thursday against world number 32 Martin Schindler. A potential quarter-final clash with Luke Littler looms large on the draw sheet—a meeting that would give Dobey the perfect stage to prove his point.
