"There's a fine line of cocky and confidence, it's about which Ross turns up": Ross Smith feeling comfortable mixing with elite after Van Gerwen win

Ross Smith produced an utterly incredible display with a 108 average and nine 180's to down Michael van Gerwen in a game which in itself meant nothing due to both being through already at the Grand Slam of Darts.

"I feel like I played well, really well to be fair. I felt nervy going into it so to hold my bottle and come through that win especially going 3-0 up, I thought don't blow it now when he pulled it back to 3-3 so I felt like I conducted myself well and held myself together well," said Smith post match.

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For Smith also, he said that he wasn't focusing on getting points or legs and wanted to beat who was in front of him instead.

"We were in the practice room and to be fair I said I don't want to know anything. I just want to concentrate on beating Michael (van Gerwen). I even told Michael that. Not in a horrible way, MIchael's an absolute gentleman, I told Michael that it's not about that game it's about me and you and I want to beat you and that's all that was in my head."

He also spoke of the new pressure of being a major winner and that he feels comfortable now with the elite evidenced by that win.

"I came into this tournament nervy as it's my first TV tournament back and I've never had to deal with this before. So it's all a learning curve, I felt a little bit unlucky against Luke (Woodhouse), I didn't play my game. Luke played well, against Nathan (Rafferty) I thought I played alright but obviously I topped it off there."

"Going forward let's just crack on. I feel like I can settle in. I don't have a clue with the group stages."

"At the moment I feel really comfortable. There's a fine line of cocky and confidence. I don't worry about who I play I really don't, I have no doubt that the bigger player I'm more relaxed, I'm not too worried. Each game's different and I look at the next game. It's about which Ross turns up."

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Ross Smith hits new record for 180's in a group match at the Grand Slam of Darts