"I gave him something back that he wasn't used to" - Fired up Ross Smith dumps Gerwyn Price out of World Matchplay in 180 fest

Ross Smith has into the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay fpr the first time in his career. 'Smudger,' who never managed to win a match in his two previous trips to Blackpool, was too strong for 4th seed Gerwyn Price in the second round, 11-9.

Smith stayed just under a hundred average and fired in an incredible thirteen 180s, despite not hitting his first until the sixth leg of the contest. "It means everything to me to be in the quarter-finals," said Smith on stage afterwards. "I used to watch this tournament as a kid and I've worked really hard to get here. In the first part of the game neither of us were at the races, so I was trying to fire myself up. I kept telling myself to fight, I dug deep and got on with it. I've had a tough draw as well against Gerwyn and Josh [Rock] so that makes it even more satisfying."

Not only did Smith and Price go head to head on the board, there was also a celebration war going on as both players attempted to out roar the other after a maximum or a leg winning shot. "Gezzy always does it, that's his game. It doesn't really bother me, because again, that's who Gezzy is," Smith explains in his post-match press conference. "Maybe I gave him something back that he wasn't used to. But I respect him! He's an unbelievable player and he's a world champion."

Smith will take on James Wade in the quarterfinals, who sent defending World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall home in the second round on Tuesday night. "I won't play who's in front of me. I play the dart board and just concentrate on my own game," a focused Smith concluded. "I'm not worried about who I play. I just concentrate on my game and hopefully, I'll come out on top."