“My majors last year were shocking” – Ross Smith reveals the changes he’s making to rebuild for 2026

The broad smile on Ross Smith’s face after his opening round at the 2026 PDC Winmau World Masters said almost everything. Not wild celebration, but clear relief.

With a 3-1 set win over debutant Jimmy van Schie, Smith took an important first step in Nottingham. Perhaps even more importantly, he drew a line under a difficult spell in which his confidence had been tested.

“Just winning that game is massive for me,” Smith said afterwards. “I haven’t played any competitive darts since the World Championship, so six to eight weeks or something like that. I was quite nervous today, and I felt like I put myself under pressure, but I dealt with it because I got the win. I’m really happy.”

The World Championship was inevitably still in his thoughts. Smith had gone out early again and did not hide from that. “If you have a bad World Championship, you end up with a long break, and obviously I was crap so I’ve had a long break,” he admitted. “I genuinely thought about it and realised I’ve only played three competitive games since November. That’s what the schedule is like.”

His first match back on a big stage felt like a test. “I don’t reflect too much on it. We’ve got 12 months ahead of us. But I needed to get back into winning ways and show that I’m a top 16 player, but I want to be higher than that.”

The pressure he put on himself was deliberate. “I was quite nervous today and I felt like I put myself under pressure, but I dealt with it because I got the win.”

That pressure had been softened slightly by a calm Christmas period. “It was lovely. Having all the family around, my partner Samantha’s family as well. It really took my mind off everything. It eased the blow a little bit. They took my mind off the darts.”

Despite his early exit, he still watched the World Championship. “I love darts. I watched a fair bit of it with a keen eye.”

A good result at the World Masters, he hopes, can help him find rhythm again. “For me, it’s just about getting back to winning ways. It’s difficult when you’ve basically had two months with hardly any tournaments. It’s hard to get into a rhythm. Now it’s tournament after tournament, and it becomes a steamroller again. I’m buzzing for the Players Championship next week and the Euro Tour.”

Smith admitted the first round is always a mental hurdle for him. “I hate the first round. Once I get through it, I relax.”

The win over Van Schie therefore, brought calm as much as satisfaction. “I’ll be fine tomorrow. I genuinely will. I just needed that win. It feels like a lifetime ago.”

He was also full of praise for his opponent. “I’ve never played him, never met him. Never heard a bad word about him. He’s a lovely guy. He came over afterwards and said well done. He didn’t have to do that. Full credit to him. I hope he has a good season.”

The possibility of facing Luke Littler next did not concern him. “No pressure for me. I actually feel like I’ve played some of my best darts against him. He’s world number one for a reason, world champion, unbelievable player. But there’s no pressure on me because no one expects me to win. I know I can beat him if I play my game.”

His mindset is clear. “If you can’t back yourself against anyone, then you shouldn’t be in the game.”

Smith was also honest about the year behind him. “My majors last year were shocking. Absolutely shocking. I think the second round was about as good as it got. I just needed a win.”

Now, his focus is firmly forward. “It’s now about moving forward this year and hopefully having a few runs in majors.”

To achieve that, he has stepped well outside his comfort zone.

“I’m trying loads of things. Since the World Championship, I’m doing hypnotherapy, working with a sports psychologist, and getting sports massages every week. I’m trying to give myself that extra percent. This game is in millimetres. I’m putting myself out of my comfort zone and just trying to give myself the best opportunity.”

With the first hurdle cleared and a long season stretching ahead, Smith leaves Nottingham not just with a place in round two, but with a sense that momentum may finally be returning. After weeks without meaningful competition, this was less about brilliance and more about reassurance. The win, the routine, and the return to the stage all served as a timely reset for a player determined to make 2026 look very different from the year he leaves behind.