I’m guaranteed £100,000 at World Darts Championship but I miss the craic of my old job placing traffic cones on motorway
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CHRIS DOBEY used to place traffic cones out on the motorway late at night – now he is in the fast lane towards world glory. And the man nicknamed Hollywood wants to lift the Sid Waddell trophy on Friday in honour of the great commentator’s family. The biggest payday of Dobey’s career – the £100,000 is £35,000 more than what he got for the 2023 Masters win – was earned following a 5-3 win over Gerwyn Price in quarter-final one.
![[Chris Dobey reached the semi-final in style]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/lawrence-lustig-round-1-former-373191515_969a02.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Traffic cones are a regular sight at Ally Pally because it is a cheap fancy-dress option and this brings back memories for Dobey. Until turning full-time in 2016, the world No.15 worked long hours, sometimes 6pm to 6am, for many years on some of Britain’s busiest roads as a traffic management operative.
Dobby, 34, said: “Honestly, I do miss the craic. It was a great set of lads whom I worked with. “When there was work to be done, it was hard work. Some of it was easy, some of it was maintenance jobs. “Darts was a hobby 10 years ago, maybe a little bit more, now it’s my job, I’m trying to provide for my family. Not just for me but also people back home.
“I’ve got over this quarter-final hurdle. I want to do better each year. I do believe I can go all the way. Who knows it might be my year.”. Throwing the winning double was like trying to run through quick-drying cement. Dobey overturned a 2-0 deficit but felt nervous in the closing moments as memories of his incredible collapse to Rob Cross exactly 12 months ago came flooding back.
