Chris Dobey secured a comprehensive victory over Luke Humphries in their recent darts clash, sealing the win on double eight.
The 6-3 triumph gave Dobey's slim play-off hopes a boost whilst preventing Humphries from closing the gap on world number one Luke Littler.
It was a commanding performance from Dobey, who took control after a shaky start from his opponent.
Humphries began well but his form deteriorated after squandering four darts in the second leg.
Luke Humphries suffered a shock defeat to Chris Dobey
PA
Dobey capitalised on Humphries' lapse in concentration, hitting a 180 to leave 21 before finishing on double eight to level at 1-1.
The momentum shifted as Dobey moved into a 2-1 lead, though Humphries briefly restored parity.
From that point, Dobey took firm control of the contest.
He pinned double 16 to go 3-2 ahead before breaking Humphries' throw with a finish on double four for a 4-2 advantage.
Humphries, who tops the PDC Order of Merit, couldn't regain his early composure.
Dobey's dominance was highlighted by a spectacular 126 checkout on the bull, which put him within one leg of victory at 5-2.
JUST IN:Rory McIlroy's wife 'makes big decision on relationship' just days after golf star won the Masters
Humphries managed to claim one more leg, reducing the deficit to 5-3.
But Dobey remained composed, stepping up to throw for the match.
He duly converted his opportunity on double eight to wrap up a convincing win.
The defeat was particularly frustrating for Humphries, who had started promisingly but lost his focus during a crucial spell after the second leg.
The financial stakes in professional darts have reached unprecedented levels, with top players earning substantial sums both on and off the oche.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker, 64, admits health problems have forced him to give up much-loved hobby
Chris Dobey claimed a famous win as he looks to boost his Premier League position
PA
Humphries currently sits atop the PDC Order of Merit having collected £1,905,750 in prize money over the past two years.
World champion Luke Littler has amassed £1,292,000 during the same period.
Littler's meteoric rise has made him "a marketer's dream" according to industry insiders.
While Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor remain the richest players ever in terms of prize money, the current generation is rapidly closing the gap.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
DUTCH DELIGHT FOR DOBEY!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 17, 2025
Chris Dobey stuns Luke Humphries with a 6-3 win in the opening game of the night in Rotterdam!
📺 https://t.co/CxOorrFXK9 #PLDarts25 | QF1 pic.twitter.com/kMJdnJDKXJ
Humphries himself has spoken about the lucrative nature of sponsorship deals in the sport.
Speaking on JaackMaate's Happy Hour podcast, the former roofer revealed: "They're paying you like five, 10 grand for each sponsor, you're kind of getting £30/40,000 on your shirt before you've even thrown a dart!"
He added: "This was like, seven years ago. That's already a year's salary, without winning anything!"
The former world champion described today's earnings as "ridiculous" and "silly money", particularly referencing the world championship prize fund.
