Ross Smith sealed the
European Championship this past weekend only a few years on from quitting darts and relinquishing his Tour Card before returning to produce some of the best form of his life.
“I think I needed to walk away because I had been playing the game for so long – since I was a teenager,” Smith conceded.
“It was just silly things - I wanted to play a bit of Sunday league football with the lads down the park, but I got that out of my system after a couple of years.
“Everyone supports me back home and I’m so grateful. The support I’ve had is incredible and without them, I probably wouldn’t be as confident as I am now.”
But it's not about resting on his laurels as he looks ahead towards Barnsley and hopefully adding to his title tally.
“This is life-changing," added Smith.
"I don’t want to be one of those players that goes: ‘That will do now’. I really want to kick on with my career and I’m going to get back on that board tomorrow.
“I’ll go to the gym, look after myself and get ready for Barnsley next week, and make sure I’m in the Players Championship Finals.”