"It's time to raise the standard" - Raymond and Ky Smith on chasing darts dreams together as father and son

The sport of darts is full of unusual stories, but few are as remarkable as that of Raymond Smith and his son Ky. During the MODUS Super Series in England, father and son took to the stage together – an experience that left its mark both emotionally and competitively. It not only created special moments within the tournament, but also offered a glimpse into the journey of two generations of Australian players.

For Raymond, a fixture on the international scene, this appearance had been circled in the diary for some time. But this time there was something extra: his son was lining up alongside him. “It feels like a two-part process,” Raymond told MODUS Super Series. “On one hand I’m fully focused on my own game, but at the same time I’m having a real ‘dad moment’ when I see Ky up on stage. That brings nerves, tension, but above all pride.”

The emotions were shared at home too. “My wife and I were on the edge of our seats,” he laughed. “Every leg, every dart we lived it with him. That made it tough, but also beautiful.”

Ky, in his early twenties, was facing his first serious test at this level – yet he settled with striking ease. “From the moment I walked on stage, I didn’t feel out of place,” Ky said. “I got into my rhythm straight away. Of course I missed a couple of doubles, but that’s part of the game. Every day is a new opportunity.”

Strong results in the group stage gave him belief, with two important wins reviving his chances of progression. “It really gave me the feeling I can compete at this level. Every game here forces you to get better – that’s something I barely get back home in Australia.”

For Raymond, the Super Series stirred memories of his own landmark moment in the competition. He won Series 2 – still one of the proudest chapters of his career. “It was probably the most complete experience of my darts career,” he recalled. “I was debating whether I should even go because we’d just bought a house and things weren’t going great at home. My manager convinced me to go – and thank goodness he did.”

That triumph gained even more significance in hindsight, because the next Series winner was none other than Luke Littler. “It shows how big this stage has become,” Raymond said.

From the other side of the world, Ky watched his father’s run with admiration. “We were literally on the edge of our seat. He’d travelled alone and everyone knows he struggles with homesickness. For him to put all that aside and still win – that was real proof of his mental strength.”

Breaking through internationally remains a tall order for Australian players. Distance, limited tournaments, and a lack of youth structure are stubborn barriers. “We’re still missing a proper development system,” Raymond stressed. “Australia is full of talent, but there are simply too few opportunities to grow. A lot of youngsters give up because they don’t see a pathway.”

Ky backed that up. “At home I usually average around 70 to 73, and that’s enough to win games. But here you’ve got to push yourself every single leg. It forces you to raise your level – and that’s why this is such a massive chance.”

Raymond admitted there are signs of progress, with initiatives like the Australian Darts Association helping to lift standards, but the pace is frustrating. “It’s going too slow,” he sighed. “If we had the same kind of structured leagues in Australia as we see here, Ky’s generation would have far more opportunities.”

Raymond himself stumbled into darts after an injury curtailed his cricket ambitions. His first set of darts was home-made from balsa wood, a bicycle spoke and feathers. “I threw them purely out of boredom,” he chuckled.

Before long he was playing competitively, and he was hooked. Ky and his younger brother Connor weren’t initially allowed to follow him. “I actually tried to keep them away from the game,” Raymond admitted. “They were good at so many other sports – swimming, tennis, whatever. But the sound of the darts hitting the board was too tempting.”

Eventually he relented, and both sons picked up the tungsten. “I always said no darts. And now they’re both in it. But I’m glad, because they’re enjoying it so much.”

The pinnacle so far was the shared experience of walking out at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace. Father and son appearing together on the biggest stage of all was an unforgettable moment. “It was surreal,” Raymond said. “I never expected that kind of media attention. But above all, as both a player and a dad, I was able to guide my son through his first big tournament.”

Ky admitted the nerves were intense. “Halfway through the final of the qualifier I had to walk out of the room – my heart rate was out of control. But once I got on stage I felt strong. Just being there was a dream come true.”

Raymond himself put together an impressive run, beating Jamie Hughes, Devon Petersen and Florian Hempel. “For the first time I really felt comfortable at that level. Everything clicked.”

Raymond isn’t done yet. His next target is Lakeside.“I don’t just want to take part, I want to win,” he said firmly. “After that, I’m aiming to get back to Ally Pally and then on to Q-School for a PDC Tour Card. My wife and I are even considering moving to Europe.”

Ky’s next ambition is the World Youth Championship.“If I can perform well with the ADA in Australia, I can pick up enough ranking points to qualify. That’s my big dream right now. And ultimately I’d love to go back to Ally Pally.”

And of course, the dream scenario is to play together in the World Cup of Darts.“We’ll be smashing the practice board to pieces at home,” Ky joked.

Both father and son are determined to give something back to darts in Australia.“We’ve been saying since the 1970s that we need a proper development structure,” Raymond said. “Otherwise we’ll keep losing talent. I want to play my part in making that happen.”

Ky echoed that sentiment.“If we can use our experiences to give something back to Australian darts, then we will. It’s time to raise the standard.”