Smith said he wanted to be greedy after winning the Grand Slam of Darts this past weekend but will not be adding another major title to his collection before the World Championship after falling to Ritchie Edhouse 6-5.
'Madhouse' defied a 12-point gap in the averages to seal one of his best wins. To start the tie, he went 2-1 up with a 111 checkout and kept the lead going 3-2 up with a 62 checkout only to be broken at 4-3 down.
'Bully Boy' consolidated but missed multiple match darts which allowed Edhouse a chance at the decider and he sealed it on double 16.
While for Noppert, it was anything but tense in a Dutch Destruction job for the UK Open champion on his return to Minehead against Simon Whitlock.
A sensational 6-1 win for 'The Freeze' saw him produce a 106.49 average in victory with a high checkout of 164, four 180's and an almost flawless doubling display hitting 6/7 on the doubles. Ominous signs from the Dutchman.
He was joined by his World Cup partner Van Duijvenbode who in comparison had a tough route through against a player seen pre tournament as being a potential banana skin due to his slow pace being Mickey Mansell and it was a 6-5 win for 'The Titan' who escaped through.
ADVERTISEMENT
Last year, Searle reached the final and he is through also after battling back from 3-1 down to see off Mervyn King in a 6-4 victory in a tournament just down the road from him and one where he emerged on TV last year.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
BULLY BOY CRASHES OUT!
Newly-crowned Grand Slam champion Michael Smith is dumped OUT in the first round by Ritchie Edhouse!
Edhouse defied a 12-point gap in the averages to claim one of his best ever wins!
#PCFDarts | R1
📺 bit.ly/PCF22Live