"I’m having a great year. I can’t grumble at all" - Ross Smith into double digit PDC ranking titles after securing Players Championship 20

A pumped Ross Smith blew away William O’Connor 8-5 in an outstanding final display in Players Championship 20 in Milton Keynes. Not realising the mega performance he put in, Smith was jubilant after confirming his 10th PDC ranking title as the great form on the oche prolongs.

‘Smudger’ reached another level in the final. Throughout the day he defeated Cor Dekker (6-3), Dominik Gruellich (6-0), Ian White with a 108.59 average (6-1), Cristo Reyes (6-2), Andy Boulton (6-2) and Henry Coates (7-6) before facing off against O’Connor.

Aside from the semi-final, it was a relatively easy day for Smith despite his level having dropped in the most recent rounds. That was very much corrected with a magnificent showing on the oche. Smith averaged a whopping 107.01 while finding six maximums and pinning eight from 11 doubles. It was truly a fitting end to what was a 10th PDC ranking title.

“I’m buzzing, to be fair,” he said afterwards. “I’m in double figures now, so you know what I mean? It’s something that, 10 years ago or before that, I’d never have thought I’d achieve. So yeah, happy as Larry.”

Smith first tasted glory on the PDC back on the floor in 2021. It took take over a year before his next PC title would come along, but first his maiden and only major triumph to date. He defeated Michael Smith in the 2022 European Championship in what was the best title of his darting career.

He won two PC titles either side of 2023 before adding a fourth PC title in 2024. He was a forced to be reckoned with last year, sealing two floor titles which brought his PDC tally up to seven. He made it eight in PC5 after thrashing Chris Dobey in the final. Things went from strength to strength after his European Tour duct came to an end after winning the International Darts Open. It is just getting better as he becomes the latest player to reach double digits in terms of PDC ranking titles.

“Not only the last couple of weeks. We’re in June now and I’ve won three bloody titles this year, plus I was winner on the European Tour as well,” he exclaimed. “So no, I’m having a great year. I can’t grumble at all and I’m buzzing. I just wish this cold would bugger off! Apart from that, honestly, I’m knackered, but I’m absolutely buzzing.”

His spot in the top 16 is safe by around £38,000 to Wessel Nijman in 16th. Smith sits in 14th and will be hoping for a charge further up the order, maybe even cracking the top 10 at some point. Yeah, definitely. For me, it’s about staying in that top 16 and obviously pushing towards the higher end of it.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, you’ve got to give yourself goals and keep pushing and pushing, otherwise there’s no point. My main goal is to stay in the top 16 because I know how important it is for the rankings.”

When the Englishman found out the fact he averaged over 107, he was slightly bemused. “It didn’t feel like it,” he commented. “I mean, I say this all the time, but it genuinely didn’t. Even Andrew, who was marking, said it didn’t feel like it either. I was like, ‘No mate, I agree with you.’”

He was even more gobsmacked with his impressive finishing skills. Mostly known as a power scorer, it was a delight for Smith to get his doubling right. “Bloody hell, yeah. I mean, Willie was with me for a lot of that final despite the fact I was averaging quite a bit more than him. I had to dig deep at times,” he admitted.

“Obviously, he smashed me yesterday with a 108 average, so it’s almost payback, isn’t it? I’d rather win the final than win the quarter-final, so I’m really happy to beat Willie because he’s a fantastic player. He’s an absolute gentleman as well.

“I think he let me off in a few places here and there in the final, but that’s darts for you. I got lucky in the semi-finals. When I say I got lucky, I missed a few match darts and let Henry in, then Henry missed three darts against me. But that’s darts for you. You can only throw what you’ve got and, yeah, happy days – I won.”

It could have been a different story. 19-year-old Coates was 6-3 down before forcing a last-leg decider, getting bettered by his more experienced opponent who had some touching things to say about him.

“Yeah, he’s absolutely incredible. It’s great to see these youngsters coming through,” he said. “Henry, I’ve just been told he’s 19 years old. I’ve been with him at the Unicorn launch days because we’re with the same manufacturer. He’s a really, really lovely kid.

“Maybe he could do with showing a bit more aggression because he was such a gentleman in that game, bless him. I’d have had the hump! But he’s a really nice kid and he’s got a hell of a career ahead of him.”

The second biggest tournament of the year is just over a month away. The World Matchplay will host the best darters in the world as they look to put their names among the greats.

Smith reached the quarter-final stage two years ago, meaning that there is a lot of work to do this year to gain that ranking money back. He is going into it in cracking form and in the top 16, meaning he can possibly get a slightly easier tie. He succumbed to a 10-5 first round defeat last year to eventual semi-finalist Josh Rock.

“Yeah, it gives me great confidence, to be fair. But it’s a different game,” he acknowledged. “Playing on the floor compared to playing on stage, whether it’s a European Tour or a major, they’re completely different. But no, I feel really good. I can’t grumble. Why wouldn’t I? I’ve won three titles this year leading into it. All I know is that I’ve got to go there feeling as fresh as I can. I’ll give it my all, like I always do, and hopefully the results will be good.”