21/10/2023

Nine-dart Ross Smith caps day of incredible form with second ranking title of the season at Players Championship 28

Ross Smith took the title at the 28th Players Championship tournament of the season in Barnsley on Saturday. He settled in the final match with Damon Heta, who gave away a lead in the final.

This title could not have come at a better time for Smith, who will try to defend his title at the European Championship next week. He only faced a seeded player in the final.

These top players including Peter Wright and Nathan Aspinall risk missing out on qualification for Players Championship Finals

The Englishman had successively defeated Nathan Rafferty (6-2), Robbie Knops (6-0), Robert Owen (6-2), Niels Zonneveld (6-2), Ricky Evans (6-2) and Dom Taylor (7-6) to reach the final. In four of these matches, he threw an average well above 100.

At the other end of the schedule, Heta managed to qualify for the final match after victories over Alan Soutar (6-4), Karel Sedlacek (6-1), Scott Waites (6-3), Martin Schindler (6-3), Luke Woodhouse (6-2) and Mickey Mansell (7-2).

Heta then managed to grab a 6-3 lead in the final after a 12-darter, 13-darter and a 104 finish, among others. However, thanks to a 13-darter and a 12-darter, Smith came back to 6-6. He then took over the lead with a 12-darter, before Smith managed to take the victory with a 13-darter.