Ross Smith is determined to come back stronger in 2023 after being cruelly denied against Dirk van Duijvenbode at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The Dutchman won in the third round after an absolute thriller and a sudden-death leg against Smith 4-3 in sets, after the European Champion had previously missed five match darts. This in a game that also saw 19 180's from Smith alone.
“I was absolutely gutted. There were no other words to describe it – I was devastated,” said Smith.
“I couldn’t care less about the 180s to be honest, it’s about winning the game.
“I wanted to win and missing three darts at tops for the match – I was gutted, but the weird thing is I know I can play a lot better.”
Smith made a breakthrough last season by winning his first major at the European Darts Championship in Dortmund in October to everyone's surprise. 'Smudger' successively defeated Joe Cullen, Dimitri van den Bergh, Peter Wright, Chris Dobey and Michael Smith on his way to the title.
He then also made it to the knockout stage at the Grand Slam of Darts by beating Michael van Gerwen in the group stage. Smith is now seventeenth on the PDC Order of Merit and can dream of a debut in the top 16 of the world rankings and wants to use the loss as fuel to future aims.
“I do look back with pride,” conceded Smith.
“I am really proud of what I’ve achieved, especially with winning a TV title, but I want to be in the Premier League, I want to be in the World Series.
“I want to be one of the top boys and this loss has really hurt me, but I will come back, I will be stronger, I’ll put it right on the practice board and next year will be different.
“This has made me more hungry, without a shadow of a doubt, because it hurt me.
“I can’t change the result, but I can change what happens in the future, so I will knuckle down and get on with it.”
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