22/10/2021

Michael Smith returns to winning ways with comeback win over Ross Smith to claim Players Championship 27 title

Michael Smith has defeated Ross Smith for the second time this season in a Players Championship final in an 8-6 win for 'Bully Boy' who returns to winning ways.

Having to come back from 4-0 down, it was a quality final which saw the St Helens ace come into his own at the right time and deny 'Smudger' a second PDC title to conclude PDC Super Series 7.

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It was a bizarre start to the contest as both players missed chances to take the opening leg before Ross Smith recovered from busting 70 to take the lead.

It was eight darts missed for 'Bully Boy' from there as Ross Smith doubled his lead before surging into a 4-1 lead.

A 101 checkout from the St Helens ace proved pivotal though as he started to close the gap. Ross Smith later missed two darts at double 16 and Michael Smith returned to make it 4-4.

Ross Smith regained the upperhand from there but Michael Smith hit the front for the first time to make it 6-5 with a break.

Three missed darts at doubles saw Michael Smith go one away at 7-5 and despite Ross Smith forcing Michael Smith to serve it out, he did so to make it two titles for the year.

Last 16

Ross Smith (96.97) 6 | 2 (93.59) Karel Sedlacek

Damon Heta (94.17) 6 | 3 (94.69) Dirk van Duijvenbode

Rob Cross (111.00) 6 | 4 (106.64) Martin Schindler

Brendan Dolan (94.26) 6 | 4 (92.04) Vincent van der Voort

Nathan Aspinall (95.54) 6 | 5 (96.47) Jose de Sousa

Florian Hempel (91.56) 6 | 5 (93.17) Danny Baggish

Michael Smith (95.33) 6 | 5 (103.10) Ricky Evans

Kim Huybrechts (99.38) 6 | 2 (98.89) Michael van Gerwen

Quarter-Finals

Ross Smith (110.68) 6 | 5 (96.39) Damon Heta

Rob Cross (101.35) 6 | 4 (94.49) Brendan Dolan