“I could’ve easily gone back to being a lorry driver” – Ross Smith's darts career treds new ground again with World Series Finals QF vs Luke Littler

Ross Smith qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam on Saturday evening. In a thrilling second-round match, he defeated Dave Chisnall 6-4, taking a significant step towards the final day. After the match, the Englishman spoke at length with the media.

Smith admitted that he didn’t feel he’d played his best darts but was nevertheless satisfied with the end result. "Honestly, I don't know," he said in his post-match press conference. "I don't feel like I've played brilliantly, but I’ve done the job that needed to be done. And that’s what darts is all about, isn’t it?"

The Englishman draws inspiration from one of the most experienced players on the circuit. "I look at James Wade a lot as a role model," Smith explained. "I'm not going to go up there and hit 110 averages like Luke Littler or Luke Humphries, but how Wadey manages games and gets through them, that’s what I admire. And today, I actually did the same thing. I’m happy with that."

The contrast with 18 months ago is striking. Back then, Smith was known as a player who could easily hit big averages, but struggled to turn them into victories. These days, he’s a darts player who knows how to win even the "ugly" games. "Averages don’t win you games," he explained. "Of course, I want to hit 110 averages every time—who wouldn’t? But my game is more consistent now. On the Euro Tour and in the Players Championship, I’ve been learning how to win those scrappy games or dig deep when I need to. I’m quite proud of that. Someone like Wade has been doing it for years and doing it brilliantly."

That survival instinct was exactly what Smith needed in Amsterdam. Chisnall, who had eliminated Nathan Aspinall earlier in the tournament, came out strong. Early breaks from both players kept the match close. Smith took the initiative with a double nine to go 3-2 up and then extended his lead to 4-2. Chisnall fought back to level at 4-4, but when it mattered most, Smith stayed calm: double four for 5-4, and after missing 110, Chisnall missed a chance to break with 94, allowing Smith to take the win.

Where Smith once got bogged down by the numbers, he now exudes a sense of calm. "Yeah, I’m just really happy with life," he said with a broad smile. "What’s not to be happy about? It’s a great job. When I was 14, I was practicing while watching players like Jamie Harvey on TV. And now here I am, playing against the best in the world. Sometimes I have to pinch myself. I think, 'I could’ve just as easily gone back to being a lorry driver.'"

That grounded outlook means Smith enters every tournament with the same mindset. "No player enters a tournament thinking, 'I don’t want to win.' I give everything in every tournament I play," he said. "If it’s not my day, it’s not my day. If I scrape through, I scrape through. One thing’s for sure: I wear my heart on my sleeve and I always give 100%, both in preparation and in the match."

In the quarterfinals, Smith will face Luke Littler, the teenage sensation who has taken the darts world by storm over the last two years. Smith has a great deal of respect for his next opponent. "The real question is, is he ready for my power play?" Smith joked. "Of course, I’ll give my absolute best tomorrow. We’ll see which Luke turns up. He’s phenomenal, an unbelievable player. I have so much respect for him and I’d love to know his secret. It’ll be a tough game, but I know I can hit top form. I’ve hit 110 averages this season, even 112 on the Euro Tour. Maybe not as consistent as Luke, but when it clicks, it clicks. If it goes, he could be in trouble."

It’s now the sixth time in a row that Smith has beaten Dave Chisnall, but he doesn’t place much importance on that statistic. "I don’t think there’s any real explanation for it. I believe it’s all about the day," Smith said. "Someone like Chisnall can throw 100+ averages and nine-darters effortlessly. Even when he’s having a rough patch, he can suddenly pull out a 110 average from nowhere. You’ve got to be sharp against every player on the circuit. I never take anyone for granted."

Smith has now reached the quarterfinals of a major PDC tournament on Dutch soil for the first time, and he finds it quite special. "Yeah, absolutely. It was about time," he acknowledged. "Last year I missed three match darts to beat Luke Littler in the first round, and he went on to win the tournament. Before that, I played against James Wade here. Now, I’m going to give it everything again and see where it leads."

The World Series Finals is a non-ranking event, but that doesn’t make it any less important for Smith. "Every tournament you play in, you want to win," he said. "If you don’t win, you go home. Simple as that. Of course, you need to play your best darts and a little bit of luck doesn’t hurt, but I’m here to win. The Grand Slam spot people talk about doesn’t even cross my mind. What will be, will be."

In between matches, Smith enjoyed a special outing with Gerwyn Price, visiting Ajax. "Fantastic, I absolutely loved every moment," he said enthusiastically. "Everyone at Ajax was so friendly and welcoming. I’m so happy I got the invitation."

Gerwyn Price joked afterwards that he and Smith weren’t much use. Smith could only laugh. "In the last leg, he was absolutely incredible against me. I thought, ‘I’m the darts player here!’ But he hit a 140 and took out the winning shot. I even said, ‘Do you need help tomorrow on the football pitch? I’ll come along.’ He and Davy were both such great guys, really down to earth. It was a privilege to meet them."