Smith who has been a PDC Tour Card holder since 2012 saw off Dolan 8-4 in only his second final albeit also holding an eight match losing streak against Dolan but he overcame that stat and was overjoyed.
"It feels like it's taken me 50 years, I've been playing that long," Smith joked. "I'm so happy to finally win a title, I'm bursting with pride.
"Beating Brendan is a massive mental hurdle I've overcome today. I know I can beat anyone on my day but what I've always struggled with is the consistency.
"I feel like for the first time in my career I'm starting to beat the big players and then kick on in my next game.
"I hope this can be a breakthrough moment for me. Before this year I had never made a final, I've made two and one won now so there's no reason why I can't make an impression at the World Matchplay."
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.
🗣 "𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲"
An emotional Ross Smith speaks to Dan Dawson after claiming his maiden senior PDC title and the £10,000 top prize at Players Championship 19!