Dolan lost in the second round of the 2013 World Championship 1–4 to Raymond van Barneveld. In his third World Cup and second with Michael Mansell the pair were beaten 4–5 in the last 16 by the Croatian duo of Robert Marijanović and Tonči Restović. Dolan reached the final of the second UK Open Qualifier following wins over the likes of Dave Chisnall, Ronnie Baxter and van Barneveld. He faced Michael van Gerwen and was defeated 2–6. At the UK Open itself he eliminated Matt Padgett and Colin Lloyd to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2008. He faced Phil Taylor and missed three match darts when leading 8–7. He threw first in the deciding leg but Taylor only needed 11 darts to beat Dolan 9–8. In October, Dolan came extremely close to winning his first ranking tournament as he led Adrian Lewis 3–0 in the final of the ninth Players Championship, but went on to lose 6–4. He faced Lewis again a few days later in the first round of the World Grand Prix and lost in the deciding leg of the final set. Another defeat in a final followed at the Dutch Darts Masters as he was beaten 6–3 by Kim Huybrechts despite averaging 101.52. This meant he had appeared in eight ranking finals without landing a title. However, a week later at the 13th Players Championship Dolan finally won his first PDC ranking tournament. He took advantage of a depleted field due to the top 16 on the Order of Merit all participating in the Masters to defeat world number 110 Ricky Evans 6–3 in the final. His second tournament win came later in the month at the final Players Championship of 2013 where he beat Jamie Robinson 6–1 in the final.