"I thought I was pulling out": From Amsterdam joy to hospital as Ross Smith endures week from hell before World Grand Prix

Ross Smith survived match darts in one of the more tougher first round assignments as he saw off Cameron Menzies 2-1 in sets at the World Grand Prix, but for 'Smudger' it meant more as he was laid up in hospital to start the week post his remarkable World Series of Darts Finals triumph.

Smith said post-match to the media including DartsNews.com, that he nearly withdrew from the tournament and that he had said to his wife that he wasn't going to bother.

Speaking about what he put it down to against Menzies, Smith said that it was down to a phenomenal display from 'Cammy' who led 1-0 and missed match darts. "I put that down to Cammy playing unbelievable. Playing like how I know he can and most people know how Cammy can play. He was superb," said Smith post match.

"I looked up as he walked off on the stage and I thought, I ain't doing a lot wrong here. He had the averages, 104-103 to me and 104 to him. I looked at my mate Mark who was in the crowd and I thought, I don't know what to do here. It's a double start and all for God's sake. It is what it is. He played really well, Cammy. I don't really know my record. I've been playing Cammy for a good 20 years now.

"He's a hard player to play. I don't look at records and things like that because each day is completely different. I think that one set, he missed two darts to beat me. That just says how this game can go. I took my chances and that's what it's about."

Being introduced as the new World Series champion would've been a great feeling, he admits if he didn't have a week from hell. He said that he was in hospital only a few days ago and had a virus post his Amsterdam win so hasn't thrown any darts since winning the final last weeekend.

"It's a lovely feeling. It hasn't been the greatest at home, if I'm honest with you. I've had a week of hell. I've come home and I've picked up some sort of virus or whatever it is. I've got problems now. I've had a few issues with my heart as well. I was in hospital on Friday. I thought I was pulling out of this tournament on Saturday. To be here is an achievement in itself, let alone win and play like that."

"I'm very happy. I was devastated because I missed my son's birthday on Wednesday because I was ill. I've come home feeling like I'm going to be celebrating and I've had a week of hell. I'm glad to be here and performing."

He said that he was feeling better and that thankfully the medication has started to kick in. "If you want to shake my hand, you're more than welcome. I feel a lot better than Saturday.

"I didn't feel any different. I felt really bad. I said to the missus, I'm not going to go. There's no way I'm playing. There's not a chance. Luckily, Sunday, I think the medications kicked in and I felt a lot better. Today, I felt a bit better. It is what it is, isn't it?"

Asked how close it came to him pulling out, he said that it was as close as yesterday before he headed down to Leicester. It is also a year since his mum passed away and he looked up to the sky during the press conference to say that's for you in a heartwarming moment.

"It literally was yesterday. If I woke up yesterday and kept feeling like I was, if I didn't see any improvement, then there was no chance I was playing. I haven't thrown a dart since I won last week. I have not thrown a single dart. I was lied up in hospital on Friday. I was on a drip and stuff like that.

"I haven't been good at all. Just to even be here and be competing, I didn't expect to win. I genuinely didn't. To then go and perform like that, well, someone's looking out for me up there. Probably my mum. A year ago today, my mum passed away.

"It's an even special day. That's where my mum's at (points to the sky). My lovely, beautiful mum. Love you."

But he didn't want to see it as a free hit in that he said he had very minimal expectations. At the same time though, he never goes into a tournament thinking that it's ever a free hit. "It's hard, but it's also easy. I know that sounds crazy because I come here with no expectation. It's almost like I hope everyone plays it down a bit from last week, in a way, because you don't want everyone to build you up to a height and go, oh, he's playing really well, and then you play like a numpty.

"Hence why I do want to let everyone know that I'm not feeling that great. You don't want to go out there and play like a div and it comes back and bites you in the bum."