SMITH SAILS THROUGH!! Excellent stuff from Ross Smith as he defeats Darius Labanauskas 3-1, averaging over 100! Very good game that, and Smith looks the real deal! #WCDarts | R2 📺 bit.ly/WC23Live
Rampant Ross Smith sends out statement with 101 average and 10 180's in superb win over Labanauskas at PDC World Darts Championship
PDCFriday, 23 December 2022 at 16:34
Coming into this year's PDC World Darts Championship as a major champion now, Ross Smith has different pressure to handle now but his opener against Darius Labanauskas showed that it is a new status he is handling well.
A superb 3-1 sets win for Smith who has only been eclipsed average wise by Michael van Gerwen so far with 10 180's to boot against a resilient Lithuanian who dug deep when it looked like 'Smudger' was going to win in a rout.
He produced a 101 average in sealing the win and will return for a post-Christmas cracker with Dirk van Duijvenbode. A player who has been touted by some to maybe miss out on the Premier League despite being a major winner, he will aim to give the selectors no choice come January and on that display, he could be set to do so.
To start the tie, Smith was utterly superb as he averaged 104.14 and hit 100% on the doubles with six perfect darts book ending the opening set for 'Smudger' with a 10-darter.
It was even more emphatic in the second set with a 106 average and 86% on the doubles as he sealed it without reply to go 2-0 up.
An 86 checkout on the bull saw Labanauskas break at 1-1. Smith missed 77 for a break to go one away and Labanauskas drifted it in on double 10 for 2-1.
But a 13-darter saw a decider sealed for Smith with Labanauskas throwing for the set. Smith went five darts into a nine-dart finish again but a poor set up allowed Labanauskas six darts at 140.
Smith missed 149 on double 16 for the win and the Lithuanian returned for the set. A ninth 180 was pinned by Smith as he looked to settle back into the tie and head towards the finishing line.
He missed 114 on double 18 but returned with Labanauskas unable to get the treble for 115 and went 1-0 up.
Smith hit a 10th 180 but it was just to pressure with Labanauskas hitting 65 on double 20. Smith missed double eight for a 95 checkout to go one away but returned for double four.
A 136 checkout saw Labanauskas send it all the way. But a poor setup from 264 bought Smith time at 135 leaving 76 which he pinned for victory.
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