SMITH BELIEVES HE CAN BECOME WORLD NUMBER ONE

ROSS SMITH has vowed to graft his way to the top with a long career in mind. 

Former European Champion Smith made headlines last week with one of the greatest-ever Players Championship runs. 

‘Smudger’ hit TWO nine-darters, reeled off three straight whitewash wins, and racked up a stunning 24 legs on the spin to seal the PC16 title in Hildesheim. 

Dover ace Smith has been in red-hot form this year — reaching the Austrian Darts Open final, five ProTour semi-finals, and smashing in the eighth most 95+ averages (50/81) on tour. 

The 36-year-old also boasts the fifth-best checkout rate with a stellar 42.88 percent. 

But despite his form, Smith believes Premier League selection is out of his hands — and he’s focusing on ranking events and long-term success. 

He said: “When it comes to selections like that it is completely outside of my hands. 

“I think I’ll need to be in the top four of the world and hopefully that will be enough to get me in. 

“That’s what I am aiming for — to just concentrate on ranking events at the moment and push into that top four.

“If I get called into the Premier League one day then fantastic. 

“It’s just about being the best I can on a regular basis.” 

Smith revealed he felt added pressure to win another major shortly after claiming his first in 2022.  

He added: “I did after I won the first one because people kept on saying to me the next one is around the corner and once you win one you’ll win loads. 

“I think the first six months after winning that I put a bit of pressure on myself. 

“I felt like I needed to win another one or I was expected to — which isn’t real. 

“Everyone knows how hard they are to win. 

“You have some of the greatest players to ever play the game that have never won one.” 

World No. 14 Smith is now focused on consistency — and emulating the longevity of darting icons like Steve Beaton. 

He admitted: “Of course, anyone would want to dominate the game like Luke Humphries has in recent years, and Phil Taylor or Van Gerwen. 

“The standard is so high now. If I win another major and it comes in the next couple of months or if it’s next year or the year after — then fantastic. 

“I want a long career as well. I want longevity. I want to be playing around like Steve Beaton did. 

“I love the game. I’m in it for the long haul.

“For me it’s about keeping myself fit and keep working hard to pick up as many majors as I can along the way. 

“If it’s one then it’s only one — but if in the next 10 or 20 years, if I can last that long, there will be a lot more.” 

Smith is not giving up on that world No1 dream either. 

He revealed: “It’s about knuckling down and keep working hard to push the best player that I can be. 

“If that’s world number one, one day then fantastic. 

“I believe I can do it — it’s just a matter of time. But at the same time, I’m realistic that the players above me are fantastic.” 

Image by Taylor Lanning.