Ross Smith Crowned World Series of Darts Finals Champion After Stunning Gerwyn Price To Claim Second TV Title
Ross Smith Crowned World Series of Darts Finals Champion After Stunning Gerwyn Price To Claim Second TV Title
Ross Smith produced the performance of his career to defeat Gerwyn Price 11-5 and claim his maiden World Series of Darts Finals title in Amsterdam.
The former European Champion delivered when it mattered most at AFAS Live, producing a devastating six-leg burst to blow the final wide open and secure the biggest title of his career.
Smith becomes the sixth different player to lift the World Series of Darts Finals trophy, collecting the £100,000 top prize and adding a second Premier title to his growing list of achievements.
The 37-year-old arrived at Finals Day in outstanding form after consecutive ton-plus averages against Kevin Doets and Daryl Gurney, before continuing his charge with a 10-7 victory over Josh Rock.
He then produced another huge performance against home favourite Gian van Veen, defeating the Dutch number one 11-8 in the semi-finals.
Seven maximums and two ton-plus finishes helped Smith reach just the second Premier event final of his career.
Waiting for him was former World Champion Price, who was chasing a third World Series Finals crown.
Smith made the faster start and appeared to be in control, but Price refused to let the final slip away.
The Welshman responded to level the contest at 5-5 with an 11-darter, setting up a dramatic second half.
But that was as close as Price would get.
Smith suddenly found another gear, producing back-to-back ton-plus checkouts of 123 and 127 to launch a stunning six-leg winning streak.
The Englishman continued to pile on the pressure before sealing the biggest victory of his career with a 14-dart break of throw.
Eleven maximums and an average of almost 104 underlined the quality of Smith’s performance as he finally got his hands on another Premier title.
“I’m absolutely made up with the win, I’m just so happy,” said Smith.
“You’re playing Gerwyn Price, he’s one of the best players in the world. You’ve got to up your game, so to beat this man, wow.
“I take each game as it comes and play one game at a time. Every game I play is a final and I give it my all, and it’s working for me at the moment.
“Since the World Series, on the Euro Tour, everything has clicked since then. Sometimes you need a kick up a backside and maybe that’s what’s done it.”
For Price, the defeat brought a disappointing end to another impressive week in Amsterdam.
The former World Champion was ruthless in his opening match, missing just one dart at double in a victory over Brody Klinge before comfortably seeing off Canadian veteran Jim Long.
He then produced one of the performances of Finals Day to defeat UK Open runner-up James Wade.
Price averaged 103.86 and fired in a spectacular 170 finish as he won the final four legs in 13, 13, 10 and 12 darts.
The Welshman carried that momentum into his semi-final against fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton, winning six of the final seven legs to triumph 11-7 with an average of more than 104.
But Smith proved the final hurdle too far.
“I was absolutely rubbish in that final, but don’t take anything away from Ross, he was brilliant,” admitted Price.
“He took his opportunities and some big checkouts at the right time. But I’m very disappointed.
“I’m playing some good darts and earning some good money. I’m absolutely gutted today, but I’m doing well – I think I’ll be fine!”
Earlier in the afternoon, Jonny Clayton produced one of the biggest shocks of the tournament by ending Luke Littler’s hopes of completing an unprecedented clean sweep of the sport’s Premier televised titles.
Littler’s extraordinary run finally came to an end as Clayton stormed to a 10-4 victory, handing the 19-year-old his first Premier event defeat in 330 days.
Clayton’s reward was a semi-final showdown with Price, but the Welshman was unable to repeat his heroics against his compatriot.
Van Veen also reached the last four, defeating compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-8 in an all-Dutch quarter-final.
The reigning European Champion produced a decisive four-leg burst to turn the contest in his favour, including a brilliant 12-darter before sealing victory with a spectacular 124 checkout on the bull.
Smith’s triumph brings the curtain down on another memorable World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
After years of knocking on the door at the highest level, the former European Champion has now added his name to the list of World Series Finals champions — and collected one of the biggest titles of his career in the process.
Ross Smith Crowned World Series of Darts Finals Champion After Stunning Gerwyn Price To Claim Second TV Title
2026 World Series of Darts Finals
Sunday September 20
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Ross Smith 10-7 Josh Rock
Gian van Veen 10-8 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Gerwyn Price 10-7 James Wade
Jonny Clayton 10-4 Luke Littler
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Ross Smith 11-8 Gian van Veen
Gerwyn Price 11-7 Jonny Clayton
Final
Ross Smith 11-5 Gerwyn Price
