“I’m happy with the win, but I need to do more" - Raymond Smith beats Simon Whitlock in final of night 2 at ANZ Premier League

Raymond Smith has taken the early lead in the 2025 Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League after a commanding victory over Simon Whitlock on Night Two in Newcastle. The Queenslander defeated the Australian darts legend 5–3 in the final, claiming not just the win but also top spot in the table and a tidy $2,000 in prize money.

‘The Guru’ looked right at home inside the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, feeding off a lively crowd that roared him to victory. After falling short in last week’s final against Jonny Tata, Smith arrived in no mood to repeat the same mistake — and this time, he got the job done.

“I’m happy with the win, but I need to do more because the players are getting better,” reflected Smith. “I’ve played okay; my form could be better, but these guys are putting you under pressure in every single leg.”

In last week’s opening round, Smith lost the decisive final to New Zealand’s Jonny Tata — a defeat that clearly lit the fire for his performance in Newcastle. From the very first dart, he looked focused and determined.

He began his campaign against James Bailey, who briefly stole the spotlight by landing the highest finish of the night with a sublime 164 checkout. But it wasn’t enough to derail The Guru. Smith remained composed and sealed the tie with a clinical 140 finish, the mark of a player in control.

In the semi-final, Smith brushed aside New Zealander Ben Robb 5–1 to book his place in the final against Whitlock, who himself had a point to prove after a slow start to the season.

For Simon Whitlock — the long-time face of Australian darts — the second night of the league marked a clear step in the right direction. After a disappointing early exit in Week One, the veteran finally rediscovered some rhythm in Newcastle.

Whitlock survived match darts against Brody Klinge in his opener before edging through, then went on to defeat Tim Pusey 5–3 in the semi-finals to secure his first final appearance of the campaign.

Although the 56-year-old ultimately came up short against Smith, he was upbeat afterwards, both about his own game and the growing strength of Australian darts.

“Fair play to Ray, he’s the top player in Australia at the moment. He’s the benchmark,” Whitlock declared. “Last week I felt jet-lagged, but I’m easing into it. I had a little bit of luck tonight, but I can only get better.”

Fans in Newcastle were treated to a cracking night of darts. The quarter-finals were packed with quality — Pusey hit three maximums in his 5–2 win over Tata, while Robb came agonisingly close to a nine-darter after landing six perfect darts in his 5–2 victory over Joe Comito.

The blend of Australian stars and hungry New Zealand challengers continues to make the ANZ Premier League one of the most entertaining darting competitions in the southern hemisphere. The standard is high, the margins razor-thin, and every night has the potential to shake up the standings completely.

After two rounds of play, the balance in the Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League 2025 is clear. Smith leads the standings with a three-point lead over pursuer Jonny Tata. Whitlock climbs to third place thanks to his final spot, just one point behind Tata. Behind that follows a compact midfield with Brody Klinge, Tim Pusey, Joe Comito and Ben Robb all within one point of each other. With several nights of play remaining, nothing is decided.

The ANZ Premier League continues its route next week with game day 3 at the AIS Arena in Canberra. Immediately scheduled there is a repeat of the final: Raymond Smith against Simon Whitlock. The pressure is high again, as every victory is crucial for a good starting position towards the playoffs.

Tim Pusey 5-2 Jonny Tata

Simon Whitlock 5-4 Brody Klinge

Ben Robb 5-2 Joe Comito

Raymond Smith 5-2 James Bailey

Simon Whitlock 5-3 Tim Pusey

Raymond Smith 5-1 Ben Robb

Raymond Smith 5-3 Simon Whitlock