CHRIS DOBEY admitted he “did nothing” on TV last year as he targets a big-stage revival.
‘Hollywood’ whitewashed Jermaine Wattimena 3-0, averaging a solid 99.36 to advance into round two of the Winmau World Masters.
World No13 Dobey made just ONE quarter-final appearance at a ranked major event last season, coming at the Players Championship Finals.
Dobey admitted his consistency came in the less glamorous events rather than under the bright lights.
He said: “Last year on TV I did nothing. I know I made the quarter-finals at the World Series Finals.
“I did well in a couple of the World Series events. You have to do it in the majors.
“I kind of let myself down, and I did all my work on the floor last year.
“If I can turn that around and start playing more consistently on TV, hopefully I can put myself in a good position for next year.”
Dobey has also made big changes away from the oche, switching to the Modus Sports management stable alongside Nathan Aspinall, and he hopes a recent house move can help spark an upturn in fortunes.
He added: “There are a lot of good lads in the same stable. I get on well with management and had a good relationship with them even before we started.
“It does help that I am relaxed going into tournaments this year. I will just go out and play darts.
“I am going to practice a lot more and put the time in now.
“I have moved house now, and once I get my darts room sorted, I think I will be a very dangerous man this year.
“I want to be back to where I was. It kick-started my career when I won the World Masters.
“I got invited to the Premier League, and I think my game just went up from there.
“I would love to win it now. It is a ranked event as well, so it will be a nice touch.
“I had a lot of prize money to defend last year, but now I can just fully focus.”
Dobey returns to action on Saturday afternoon and will face Damon Heta for a place in the quarter-finals at Milton Keynes.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
