Ross Smith has snagged his first PDC rankings title of 2024. 'Smudger' defeated Dutchman Wesley Plaisier 8-7 in the final of Players Championship 13.
The highest average of the day also came in Smith's name. More to the point, he achieved that 107.35 average in the final against Plaisier, who himself achieved the third highest average of the day with 104.79 in that match. The second highest average, by the way, was for Krzysztof Ratajski. The Pole was 6-0 too strong for Martijn Dragt in the last 32 with an average of 104.86. Ratajski eventually lost 6-4 to Andrew Gilding in the last 16.
Plaisier, who incidentally does not have a Tour Card but was allowed to participate in the Players Championship because of his good placement on the Challenge Tour, played a great tournament in Milton Keynes. The 34-year-old darter achieved a 100+ average in no less than four of his seven matches. That puts him in the top 15 highest averages of the day four times.
Later today Players Championship 14 will be finished, where Plaisier will have another shot at victory as he is once again called upon to fill up the starting numbers.