Australian duo wins in first round World Series of Darts Finals to set up clash with Dutch giants
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Raymond Smith and Damon Heta started the World Series of Darts Finals with wins in their first round matches. They will both meet a Dutch opponent in the second round.
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Smith booked a fine 6-3 victory over former World Youth Champion Keegan Brown and will meet Raymond van Barneveld in the second round on Saturday. Heta defeated Maik Langendorf after a leg-decider and faces Michael van Gerwen in the second round.
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Click here for more information about this tournament.
Friday session schedule
Raymond Smith (93.48) 6-3 (92.16) Keegan Brown
Maik Langendorf (80.70) 5-6 (83.21) Damon Heta
20:30 Ian White v Kyle Anderson
21:00 Dave Chisnall v Max Hopp
21:30 Jamie Lewis v Dimitri Van den Bergh
22:00 Gerwyn Price v Royden Lam
22:30 Steve Beaton v Daryl Gurney
23:00 Ross Smith v James Wade
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1058454301394096128
Maik Langendorf (80.70) 5-6 (83.21) Damon Heta
20:30 Ian White v Kyle Anderson
21:00 Dave Chisnall v Max Hopp
21:30 Jamie Lewis v Dimitri Van den Bergh
22:00 Gerwyn Price v Royden Lam
22:30 Steve Beaton v Daryl Gurney
23:00 Ross Smith v James Wade
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1058454301394096128
I stumbled into the world of darts quite by accident back in 2013. For a Journalism School assignment, I had to produce a live sports report and as it happened, the European Tour event in Veldhoven was the only available option. That weekend, I caught the darts bug. The post-match interviews especially appealed to me, as darts players tend to be much more open and approachable than what you usually see with footballers on television.
After a few detours, I joined Dartsnieuws.com in 2017 as editor-in-chief. I don’t have much competitive experience myself, although I once entered a PDC Development Tour weekend just to experience what it’s like from a player’s perspective. I even managed to win a leg against a Tour Card holder and, quite by accident, earned £50 in prize money.
In 2022, I was also involved in the founding of the TOTO Dart Kings, a commercial darts team, where I worked as media manager for three years. Unfortunately, due to new legislation in the Netherlands, that project came to an end in 2025.
Through my work in darts, I’ve been fortunate to travel to some incredible events, from Premier League nights at Ahoy Rotterdam, to several World Championships, and even the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Beyond darts, I’m a passionate sports fan in general. You can always wake me up for a game of tennis or padel, and I love following football, tennis, padel, cycling, Formula 1, and ice skating.
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- Joking aside, it is the second most watched sport on sky (more than golf, F1 etc) behind football only, and in participation is second to only football and swimming. It doesn't get the attention or sponsorship of "bigger" sports because it's not as sexy, but it's right up there.BandB13-10-2026
- i love darts but you can't seriously believe it's the second most popular sport in the uk. even top five is pushing it. it may be the fastest growing, though.colt13-10-2026
- I'm a big Clayton fan, but he's got this completely wrong. Qualification criteria exists for a reason - so just as failing to make the top 32/64 for the Euro championships/PT Finals means you miss out, so does not lifting a title for this one.26sForFun12-10-2026
- The players who deliberately slow the game down are usually boring and win very little in the way of silverware. Horrible to watch.MrYnyslas197112-10-2026
- [“The Gentle” then used a sweeping and questionable phrase...] You anglocucks are hilariously finished in every sense of the word.Critical99911-10-2026
- I love Jonny but I disagree. The Grand Slam was always supposed to be "champion of champions" type competition. If the top 16 are guaranteed participation in everything there will be so much less jeopardy involved in qualifying and each major tournament will lose its unique flavour which the PDC has worked hard trying to develop. I enjoy following the qualification races towards the end of the year, and while consistency should have its rewards, the truth is Jonny hasn't reached a major final all year or won a single event on the Pro Tour. Being consistent is one thing, but that alone should have consequences as the sport's elite should not be prepared to accept consistently strong performances, their foremost motivation should be to win and this should be what separates them from the rest, not the consistency of their performances. Jonny is expecting that losing should be enough; it shouldn't be, at least not as far as the Grand Slam is concerned.Deduce635811-10-2026
- Well being honest,it doesn't matter what level you play at, there's always someone who slows it down to suit themselves,and extra swig of water, replacing flights, asking the ref what the score is. It happens wherever. I'm not saying it's professional,but I'm sure we've all seen it beforerick6711-10-2026
- Agree completely. Not sure how a ranking event can have a criteria not based on rankings. And he right on popularity. In the UK second only to football.BandB11-10-2026
- Doesn't matter who's in it,it's boringrick6710-10-2026
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