Newcastle United daft Chris Dobey gets Premier League darts call - & when the event is in Newcastle

Newcastle United daft Chris Dobey has been rewarded for a remarkable run to the World Championship semi-finals with a spot in the 2025 Darts Premier League.

Dobey was beaten 6-1 in the last four by Michael van Gerwen, but impressed at the Alexandra Palace in December and early January.

And that end of year flourish was enough to see the Bedlington lad rise to 10th on the PDC order of merit, and nip ahead of some big names for one of the coveted slots.

Dobey is one of four wildcard picks alongside Stephen Bunting, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall, who will all compete in the eight-player field, which gets under way in Belfast on February 6.

Newly-crowned PDC World Champion Luke Littler defends his title, won last year, with world No.1 Luke Humphries, Van Gerwen and Rob Cross making up the full list of participants.

'Hollywood' - which is Dobey’s on stage moniker - has picked three Players Championship wins throughout 2024, and last played in the Premier League in 2023.

Dobey was named ahead of the likes of world No.6 Dave Chisnall, 2023 world champion Michael Smith, 2021 Premier League champion Jonny Clayton and former world champions Gary Anderson and Peter Wright.

‘We want people on the edge of their seats’

PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter told Sky Sports, said: “"Obviously with Price, Dobey and Aspinall, there are players above them in the rankings who haven't been selected but we have looked at it in terms of big stage presence, popularity, and the way they can get a 10,000-person crowd every Thursday going,"

"We want people on the edge of their seats. We want people up and enjoying their darts.

"That isn't to say other players can't do that. You have to make decisions on who is right at the time."

When will Dobey play at Newcastle?

Matches take place every Thursday night between February and May at different venues across the UK and Europe - with Newcastle slated to take place on night eight.

That takes place on March 27 - and will be live on Sky Sports.