When Chris Dobey was stood among the 3,200 Newcastle United fans at St Mary's in January, he didn't think his week could get any better after watching the Magpies beat Southampton 1-0 in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
But fast forward five days and not only did the 32-year-old Bedlington darts ace win his first PDC major title at the Masters in Milton Keynes, he was handed the most lucrative golden ticket in professional darts as a result. One of eight places in the Premier League.
Having previously fallen three times at the semi-finals stage of major competitions, 'Hollywood' finally fulfilled his darting potential by scooping the £65,000 winner's prize and a seat at the major champion table.
And just like the previous two Masters champions (Joe Cullen in 2022 and Jonny Clayton in 2021), Dobey's reward was a place in the 17-week darts showpiece.
READ MORE: WATCH the moment Chris Dobey walked on to Local Hero at the Premier League darts in Newcastle
"I had been threatening it for for the past few months or even a couple of years but I felt my game was in a decent place," Dobey told Chronicle Live.
"I had a tough run all the way to the final as well. So I was just pretty consistent and that's my game. If my darts are consistent, I won't be far away. Obviously I knew what had happened the previous two years with Joe and Jonny but after each each and every game I kept on being asked the question about the Premier League and I just kept pushing it aside.
"I didn't want to know anything about it until I got that job done and soon as I hit that winning double, and as I said in the interview after the final, of course I would have been gutted if I didn't get it going off the last couple of years. I'm happy I've got my chance and hopefully can keep on doing well."
Newcastle, of course, followed up the away win at Southampton with a 2-1 win at St James' Park in the return leg to book their place in their first Wembley final for 24 years.
Dobey then continued his dream week by winning the opening night of the Premier League in Belfast, beating former world champions Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen en route to scooping up the £10,000 weekly winner bonus on top of the minimum £60,000 prize money he will receive for playing in the competition.
After eight years of being a professional, Dobey's career was transformed in the space of a week.
"It was a great week," he added. "I obviously travelled straight from Southampton to Milton Keynes following the semi final first leg so to do it that way as well, I was made up about it.
"I haven't had a week like that before. To win my first major then not even a week later to win week one of the Premier League was just unbelievable. It was good, obviously, to quieten the people that doubted me."
His association with Newcastle United has been well documented but the support goes both ways. Dobey has become good friends with the Longstaff brothers and also grew close to former Magpies goalkeeper Freddie Woodman during his time at the club.
Dobey even wears black and white colours on the darts stage and he was blown away when he received a message off United's record goalscorer Alan Shearer after his Masters win.
"It's massive," Dobey said when asked about the support he receives from Newcastle and their fans. "It's nice to have and I follow Newcastle home and away and it's nice to be stopped for photos and stuff like that.
"The club tweet me support now and again and I got a brilliant message off Alan Shearer after winning the Masters as well. I keep in touch with Matty and Sean and being a massive Newcastle fan, who would have thought a few years ago I'd be messaging the players we've followed for years? It's crazy."
The Premier League changed its format last season so that the eight players play off in 16 weekly tournaments across the season. Players will receive two points per semi-final finish, three points per runner-up finish, and five points per final win and the top four players in the league standings at the end of the season will contest finals night at London's 02 Arena.
Since week one, Dobey had to endure five quarter-final defeats in the Premier League - despite posting decent performances - but hit back last week to reach his second weekly final, which included an eye catching 6-0 win over van Gerwen.
Whereas before Dobey was considered as a potential future star, his mindset has changed now where he believes he belongs with and can mix it with the sport's very best.
"I'm a big believer in my own ability and I know how good my game is," he explained.
"It was nice to get it under my belt straight away and I've been playing well, obviously not getting the results since then but to go out last week and perform the way I did, I think there's a lot more to give and I know I'm a bit better than that.
"Week in week out you're playing against the best in the world and I'm not going to get the results every week. So I'm happy with the way I'm playing and hopefully, we'll start building the points over time to get in the top four at the end of the season.
"I'm up there now. Everybody can beat everybody on the tour and the standard is so high now but playing this week in week out, I believe I can win now after getting my first first major title. I'm putting some good stuff together so hopefully another win is around the corner."
And tonight Dobey returns home as he will step out on to the stage at Newcastle's Utilita Arena - three years after he appeared as a 'wildcard challenger' following the withdrawal of two-time world champion Gary Anderson from the 2019 Premier League.
That night he came out to a raucous reception as he walked on to Newcastle United's pre-match anthem 'Local Hero' before playing out a 6-6 draw with Mensur Suljovic.
WATCH: Chris Dobey walks on to Local Hero at the 2019 Premier League darts
He plans to do the same tonight when he takes on reigning world champion Michael Smith and he hopes the crowd being on his side can inspire him to a second weekly win.
"I just want to go there, enjoy it and take it all in and hopefully win for everybody out there," he finished.
"We're all friends up there. You've just got to brush that aside. When you get up on that stage, I'm going to have the home fans on my on my side and it might be tough on Michael. I don't know how he will feel tomorrow but I think he will be looking to get one back on me after last week. I'm sure it'll be another cracking game as always."
Night Eight - Thursday March 23
Utilita Arena, Newcastle, quarter-finals
Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
Nathan Aspinall v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gerwyn Price v Jonny Clayton
Michael Smith v Chris Dobey
League Table
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