Ross Smith storms to Players Championship 20 title “I never would have thought I’d get to double figures”
Ross Smith storms to Players Championship 20 title “I never would have thought I’d get to double figures”
Ross Smith produced another outstanding display to secure his tenth PDC ranking title with victory at Players Championship 20 in Milton Keynes on Wednesday.
The former European Champion averaged 107.01 and landed an impressive 73% of his doubles in an 8-5 victory over William O’Connor in the final, continuing his superb start to the 2026 season.
Smith had already lifted Players Championship Five in February before capturing his maiden European Tour title at last month’s International Darts Open. He added another trophy to his growing collection at Arena MK, averaging 99.34 across seven matches to climb to second on the ProTour Order of Merit.
“I’m buzzing to be fair,” said Smith, who has now won three titles in a calendar year for the first time in his PDC career.
“Willie is a fantastic player and an absolute gentleman. He smashed me yesterday with a 108 average, so that was almost payback there!
“I never would have thought I’d get to double figures [in PDC titles], so I’m really happy.
“We’re in June now and I’ve already won three titles and been runner-up in another European Tour event, so I’m having a great year.
“For me it’s just about staying in that top 16 and pushing towards the higher end of it. You’ve got to give yourself goals and keep pushing, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Smith began his campaign with a dominant win over Cor Dekker before whitewashing Dominik Gruellich and defeating Ian White 6-1, averaging 101 and 108 respectively in those victories.
He continued his charge with another ton-plus average in a 6-2 win over Cristo Reyes before dispatching Andy Boulton by the same scoreline to book his place in the semi-finals.
The 37-year-old was then pushed to the limit by Henry Coates in a dramatic last-four encounter. Coates fought back from 6-3 down and earned three match darts, but Smith held his nerve to prevail and reach the final.
That set up a showdown with O’Connor, who had defeated Smith 6-2 in the last 16 of Tuesday’s Players Championship 19.
Smith made the perfect start with an 11-dart break of throw. Although O’Connor responded by winning back-to-back legs, the Englishman rattled off three consecutive legs in 14, 15 and 13 darts to move 4-2 ahead.
O’Connor continued to apply pressure, but Smith remained rock solid on his own throw, producing legs of 12, 11 and 13 darts to establish a 7-5 advantage before sealing victory with a clinical 84 checkout.
Despite falling short of a first PDC ranking title since 2019, O’Connor enjoyed an excellent run to the final and collected the £10,000 runner-up prize.
The Irishman eased past Viktor Tingstrom and Shane McGuirk before producing one of the performances of the day in a 6-0 whitewash of Martin Schindler with an average of over 103.
He then overcame top seed Wessel Nijman despite the Dutchman averaging over a ton, before defeating Dave Chisnall and Richard Veenstra to reach the final.
Veenstra’s semi-final run featured deciding-leg victories over Jermaine Wattimena and Callan Rydz, while he also accounted for Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski in the quarter-finals.
Coates was arguably the breakthrough performer of the event. The 19-year-old Challenge Tour representative defeated Andrew Gilding, Ricardo Pietreczko, Danny Noppert and Joe Cullen on his way to the semi-finals, securing the biggest payday of his career.
Elsewhere, Tuesday’s runner-up Jonny Clayton suffered a surprise first-round exit, while Gian van Veen, Damon Heta and Kevin Doets also departed at the opening hurdle.
The 2026 PDC ProTour season continues later this month with Players Championships 21 and 22 at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan on June 16-17.
Ross Smith storms to Players Championship 20 title
2026 Players Championship 20
Wednesday June 3
Arena MK, Milton Keynes
Last 16
William O’Connor 6-4 Wessel Nijman
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Rob Owen
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Mervyn King
Richard Veenstra 6-5 Callan Rydz
Ross Smith 6-2 Cristo Reyes
Andy Boulton 6-4 Mickey Mansell
Joe Cullen 6-4 Chris Dobey
Henry Coates 6-2 Danny Noppert
Quarter-Finals
William O’Connor 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Richard Veenstra 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Ross Smith 6-2 Andy Boulton
Henry Coates 6-5 Joe Cullen
Semi-Finals
William O’Connor 7-2 Richard Veenstra
Ross Smith 7-6 Henry Coates
Final
Ross Smith 8-5 William O’Connor
