"You hear the pundits saying they favour him, not insulting, but you just go, alright I'll buck my ideas up": Ross Smith didn't understand underdog status against Kevin Doets
PDCMonday, 20 July 2026 at 22:30
Ross Smith has won multiple titles in 2026 and is one of the best players on tour based off statistics and he showed again why he is a player to watch at the World Matchplay as he saw off one of the leading outsiders in Kevin Doets superbly.
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Smith saw off Doets who averaged 104 with a 100 average himself as he won through 10-6. His main message was that he was glad to prove the doubters wrong including the pundits saying they favoured Doets.
He spoke to the media including DartsNews.com afterwards and said that he didn't understand the lesser billing and was glad to prove people wrong.
"Yeah, absolutely buzzing. Buzzing is definitely the word. I know how well Kevin Doets has been playing the past six months or a year. I know how much work he puts into it. Top professional," said Smith to the media including DartsNews.com.
"I knew I had my work cut out tonight. When you look at a draw you go, I don't want it. To get the win, I'm well happy."
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Smith was surprised at billing
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He joked that he didn't want to do like Joe Cullen and pick out the fact that he wasn't favoured but did say that he did look at it and think hold ona. minute what's going on.
"I don't want to do a Joe Cullen. But no, it does bug you a bit. You look at stuff and you see Kevin Doets' face up there. It's nothing against him. It's not his fault whatsoever.
"But you see his face on social media and then you hear the pundits saying, "Oh yeah, I favour him," and stuff like that.
"I don't know, it's just... not insulting, but you just go, "Alright, I'll buck my ideas up. I'll show you." I've had a good bloody year, to be fair. The start of this year, I've had a good year. I've won three titles.
Ross Smith surprised at billing.
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"I don't know how many he's won, but I felt like a bit of an underdog going into that. From other people, not myself. But I was like, what's going on here?"
"Again, it's nothing against Kevin. I'm not that kind of guy. But yeah, it does bug me. I think it bugs anyone.
"At the end of the day, I'm going, well... I know full well I've had a better year than Kevin. But yeah, I feel like people are favouring him more than me. Yeah, it's just a fact, isn't it? It's in black and white. So yeah, again, it is what it is. I've turned up tonight. Kevin's obviously played fantastic tonight. I didn't realise it until the end there. He averaged 104.
"To average 104 on your debut at the Matchplay, wow. I wish I could have done that. I wish I could have done it tonight as well. Full credit to him. He's a top professional and he's a really nice lad as well. I wish him all the best and he's got an amazing future ahead of him."
Winning another major not as easy
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He also touched upon winning another major and said that while he can manifest it into existence, anyone can beat anyone on their day. "I'm very realistic. I look at stuff and I think anyone can win on a day. We're all unbelievable players here at the PDC. You're in the top 128 players, or in here, the top 32. If you don't turn up, you're going to get done over.
"If you turn up, you know you've got a chance. It's very hard. You play the best players in the world. I just take each round as it comes.
"Even leading into this tournament, at one point I remember going, OK, I've got Kevin Doets. I could have Luke Humphries. And you start going into it. In the end, you go, just stop. One game at a time. Because it can spiral. Every player in this room is fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And they're here for a reason."
Removing being overawed
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He also discussed turning up at a venue like the World Matchplay where he has gone as a kid and said that it has overawed him in the past so he needs to take a new tact. "I've struggled with things like that because I turn up again. Like I said on stage, I turn up at the venue there and I look, or have done previously, I've looked around and I'm like, my God, I'm here again.
"Like, this is amazing. I've been here as a child, I've watched it on TV as a child. And it becomes this massive thing, which rightly so, it should be.
"But at the same time, as a dart player, you've got to go, it's just another event. That's why I've tried to turn it around and said it's just another Euro Tour that we're doing on a weekly basis, basically.
"And yeah, try not to hype it up as much as it is. Just take each game as it comes."
Ross Smith arrives at World Matchplay.
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But also he doesn't even see himself at peak form and that he doesn't think he's played anywhere near his best recently. "Weirdly, I don't think it has. I don't think it has been near my peak form. I generally don't. I think I've got a bit of luck along the way.
"Yeah, I don't think I played well in the Euro Tour final, but I finally got over the line. Maybe that's just a bit of luck on your side, you know, rub of the green or a little rubbing on my shoulder.
"But yeah, I don't think I've played any better as such. Maybe I'm just learning to win a bit ugly when I need to. Again, I look at people like James Wade for that.= He's absolutely masterclass at it. He doesn't always bang in 110 averages, doesn't need to.
"But I'll tell you what, that geezer, he bloody knows how to win, doesn't he? So yeah, I'll take a leaf out of his book when I can."
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Samuel GillChief Content Officer
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.
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