NEWCASTLE'S Chris Dobey has been handed a place in darts' Premier League after winning the Masters.

The 32-year-old North-Easterner beat Rob Cross in last night's final in Milton Keynes on Sunday night to land the £65,000 top prize and secure a spot in the eight-man tournament which starts on Thursday in Belfast.

Dobey was a challenger in the 2019 and 2020 editions and emulates Jonny Clayton and Joe Cullen, whose Masters wins in the last two years were followed by Premier League inclusions.

Speaking last night, Dobey said: “I would love it, I would take your left or right arm off if you offered me the chance. But it is up to the PDC, they get the choice of picks.

“Obviously the PDC has given me so many opportunities from the start of my career and it is much appreciated everything they have done for me. It is down to them."

Nathan Aspinall and Dimitri van den Bergh have returned to the line-up this year, but 2022 runner-up Cullen has missed the cut along with the likes of two-time champion Gary Anderson and former World champion Cross.

Reigning World champion Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen and Clayton complete the field.