"She said make sure you go and win your next one": Ross Smith opens up on his mum's passing and keeping busy while grieving

Ross Smith’s return to Dortmund at the 2025 European Championship brought back memories of his biggest triumph — but also marked a deeply personal moment in his career.

Just three years after lifting his maiden major title on the same stage, Smith stepped back into the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund and earned his first victory there since that famous night — a win made all the more meaningful following the recent loss of his mum. He had to pull out of the Swiss Darts Trophy due to this but then returned days later to win a ProTour in a real heroic effort given what he was going through.

“Not really, no,” Smith admitted to Online Darts when asked if returning to Dortmund gave him confidence. “I haven’t won a game since I’ve been back here, well, since I won it. So that’s my first game I’ve won. It’s nice to get the win now — it’s been three years.”

Reflecting on the emotional link with Peter Wright — the man he beat en route to that 2022 title and again in his opening match this week, Smith revealed that Wright’s encouragement continues to resonate. “Peter knows exactly what he did three years ago for me. He said to me after I beat him last time, ‘You can win this.’ And he just said to me there, sort of chuckled and went, ‘You can win this,’ as a little thing. But yeah, I’m glad to get the win.”

It’s been a tough few weeks away from the oche for the Kent thrower, who has continued competing through personal grief. Asked how he managed to balance his mental health with the demands of a relentless schedule, Smith was characteristically honest.

“I didn’t,” he said plainly. “I just got on with life. That’s all you can do. Everyone’s different, everyone deals with things differently, but for me it was about getting stuck in and keeping myself and my mind busy, because if I don’t, I’ll crack up.”

He added: “At the same time, I know my mum would want that. She’d want me to keep busy. She even told me as well — she’s like, ‘Make sure you go with your next one.’ And I did, but it was after, to be fair. So at least I’ve done that right. For me, it’s been important to just keep busy. But like I say, everyone’s different.”

For Smith, the darts circuit and its community have offered some normality at a time when life outside the sport has been anything but. “Yeah, massively,” he said when asked if the stage felt like a safe space. “And to be honest, it’s anywhere I go in darts in general — it’s not just the stage. Going straight into the Players Championships, the lads at the table, they’re the best. They bring you into reality and make you feel just normal, and you want to keep busy. Everyone’s been fantastic.”

As he continues to navigate life after loss, Smith says his family have been crucial to helping him keep perspective. His partner, Samantha, and son, Archie, made the trip to Germany to watch him play — something that doesn’t happen often but clearly means the world to him.

“Yeah, it doesn’t happen often,” he smiled. “He’s been to Ally Pally the last couple of years, which has been great. I’ve got my team with me here — my partner, Samantha, and my son, Archie — so what more can I want?”

Having that support network close by, Smith explained, plays a huge part in how he prepares mentally and emotionally for big events. “It’s massive,” he said. “I think preparation is probably the most important thing leading into any tournament. You practise hard during the week if you’ve got the time — I say that because of all the tournaments we play. But if you feel like you need your family around you, or you don’t, or you need some space — whatever it is — again, everyone’s different with how they prepare. For me, this tournament is massive, and having my family around me is really important. I’m really grateful they’re here to support me.”

Even amid emotional turbulence, Smith’s professionalism hasn’t wavered. He remains respectful of his opponents, particularly Peter Wright — a player he clearly holds in high regard.

“I’ve got so much respect for Peter,” Smith said. “I just went up there to win every leg I can and get the win, and that’s what I’ve done. Peter’s fantastic — and away from darts as well, he’s honestly one of the nicest guys. I’ve got the utmost respect for him. He’s a real gentleman and a top guy away from darts.”

The European Champion is the first to admit that his form hasn’t been consistent in recent months — describing himself as feeling “up and down like a yo-yo” — but his mindset remains strong. “I feel really good the past couple of weeks, well, past couple of months, but I feel up and down like a yo-yo at the moment,” he said. “My arm feels really good, but they’re just not quite going in all the time. It’s a bit of a strange one, but hopefully now I can kick on.”

As he moves forward in Dortmund, Smith carries with him not just the memory of his first major triumph, but the guidance and belief of those closest to him — both past and present. And for a player driven by family, resilience, and quiet determination, that may prove to be the most powerful motivation of all.

“At the end of the day, I’m going to put a smile on my face,” Smith said. “Because the wins are the most important thing.”