"I think I'm ready, but that's not up to me, is it?": Ross Smith dreams of playing in the Premier League after winning a major in Amsterdam
PDC
Ross Smith could hardly believe his luck after being crowned the winner of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam on Sunday evening. ‘Smudger’ convincingly beat Gerwyn Price 11-5 in the final, securing the second major title of his career. After the match, the Englishman also cautiously hinted at a possible participation in the 2027 Premier League.
ADVERTISEMENT
Smith himself sees a heady dose of irony that like the European Tour, he can win the end of season major but up until this year he struggled to win titles on that end too and now he is World Series winner after a few sporadic appearances including Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.
"Absolutely made up, absolutely made up. A bit strange though, isn't it? I can't win a game in the World Series but I win the Finals," he said to Online Darts.
"That's the same as the Euro, wasn't it? I won the Europeans but I didn't win the Euro Tour. So yeah, that just sums me up, doesn't it? You know, so no, obviously I'm bloody made up."
Ross Smith triumphs in Amsterdam.
Smith said though that it perhaps feels better than the first one as it vindicates how he has been playing as of late. 'Smudger' has been one of the best players in the world this season and has now shown again why as he won through the field this weekend.
"I'd say so because the first one sort of came out of the blue. I wasn't expecting it or anything like that, but I suppose the past month since the World Series call-up, I feel like I played really well. You know, on the Euro Tour, I've come back 1-1, quarter-finals, runner-up and then obviously here. So yeah, I feel like my game and consistency is definitely there. So yeah, it means more than the first one."
Going Down Under for the World Series, Smith also found it a bit chastening losing both games quite early and he said that it gave him a kick up the backside he needed to get his head down. He then won in Budapest and has been in wonderful form ever since, a testament to a player who continues getting better.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I wouldn't say it focused me more, it just gave me a kick up the backside. You know, I felt like I let myself down and I was given a great opportunity and it really hurt. You know, I work hard at this game.
"I don't take it for granted at all and to be given the opportunity was massive for me and yeah, I let myself down and I thought I need to correct this and I've come back and I've definitely done that and yeah, I got some big balls, I think."
Now as well the darting world cannot call Smith a one hit wonder as he now has his latest number one and for the Deal ace, it is very much one that will take a while to sink in.
"It ain't registered yet, to be fair. No, it's absolutely amazing and I'm absolutely buzzing, absolutely buzzing. I don't really know what to say, to be fair.
"I really don't, but I'm just over the moon and you know, I've got great people at home and I know it's a bit of a cliché, but I have. I really have got great people at home and family and support and they help me so much, so yeah, I'm really good. I'm in a good place."
ADVERTISEMENT
Premier League awaits?
Attention turned not only on social media but also his press conference about Smith and the Premier League. He was asked about whether it is now time for him to be included given his run and how last time he joined a short list of players to not be included despite being a major champion.
"Yeah, I think I have, but at the same time, you know, lesson learned from last time. We're only halfway through the season. We've got all the majors coming up.
"I'm not going to sit here and lie. Of course, I want to be in it. If you give me the opportunity, I'm going to grab it with both hands and I won't play like I did in the World Series.
"But honestly, it's a privilege to play this game and if I get a call-up, then fantastic. I think I'm ready, but that's not up to me, is it? It's out of my hands.
ADVERTISEMENT
"All I can do is keep doing what I'm doing, keep performing and yeah, I just want to keep picking up titles and yeah, money."
Winning in Budapest and Riesa this year, Smith has to love playing in Europe and he said he does better there than he does at home. "I love playing in Europe, more so than England by the looks of it. I do rubbish in England.
"But no, everything's going well. I can't grumble at all. I love playing in Europe."
Changing walk-on and facing Van Veen...as well as the crowd
Facing Van Veen too, he said that he expected stick and doesn't have any issue with it going as far to say that they should cheer on their own.
ADVERTISEMENT
"To be fair, I knew I was going to get a stick from the crowd, but that's rightly so. It doesn't bother me, things like that. The crowd, I thought, you know, were really respectful.
"I've got no issue with the crowd here. I think they've been absolutely brilliant. Rightly so.
"They should cheer their home players on. The Ally Pally crowd certainly do that for me and for other players. So just part and parcel of the game and yeah, I knew what to expect and you just get on with it."
But now sitting as a major champion again, Smith added that he has certainly had his best year to date. "Yeah, without a doubt. Even before this tournament, obviously, because this isn't obviously ranked, but if you look at the year-to-date in the rankings, I think I'm sitting fourth or something like that. And I've had a great year.
"If you're sitting in top four of the year-to-date, you're doing well. So no, definitely this is the best year I've had. But again, you keep working hard and don't take things for granted and kick on."
ADVERTISEMENT
Read also
Fans of his Red Light Spells Danger walk-on though noticed that was gone and the journalist said that his mum loves the song so wondered why he changed it and he said he got bored.
"I've just got a bit bored. I got a bit bored, so I thought I'd spruce it up a little bit. But if your mom's got any other recommendations, I'm all ears. So as long as it's not Frank Sinatra, I'm all ears."
He won't be getting bored of winning titles anytime soon that is for sure as Smith surges to a second major.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026
- Fair play to Fallon. But...shows the mockery when a professional players wins what was meant to be an amateur v Pro event, Littlers performance was poor, and what about the players who didn't get a game? Would have been better if the pot was split amoungst all the winners and they all got a leg.BandB31-10-2026
- Not even slightly interestedrick6730-10-2026
- And yet the PDC has decided to aggravate this problem by doubling the Players Championship Finals field from 2027. I can't imagine there will be fewer withdrawals next year with even less reason to turn up. I can only hope that a whole slew of Challenge Tour top-up players receive enough prize money in the absence of much of the elite, that some of the more complacent among them struggle to scrape into even a heavily diluted field! More semi-pro players will get to test their mettle, but the standard of competition will be much inferior. It could hardly be said that the Players Championship series will provide an opportunity for darts' second string to test their Tour Card credentials anymore, but at least it will underscore the achievements of those Challenge Tour players of current and previous years, who were able to prove themselves as more than capable of competing with, and beating, the elite of the sport on a consistent basis, and reaping the due rewards.Deduce635828-10-2026
- No point in being there? Champions want to win.Deduce635828-10-2026
- Littler lost to crabtree in the youth/junior/whatever you call it. He had no point in being there. He's unfortunately now got to the stage,he feels all he has to do is get on the stage to win. Well,I hope he realises part of his fear factor has gone. Happened to Taylor,then van gerwen,and it's causing him to realise pretty sharp,he isn't unstoppable. It's good for the sport,not 1 single player in my 60 years has ever,or will ever be, unbeatable.rick6725-10-2026
- I think it's great to see Mark Webster looking good,good ladrick6725-10-2026