Smith thrashes Price to win World Series after Littler's shock exit
Ross Smith thrashed Gerwyn Price 11-5 to become World Series of Darts champion, while Luke Littler's hopes of a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026 was dashed in the quarter-finals.
Gerwyn Price "does not care" if he never wins another major as he prepares to head to Tenerife following "absolute rubbish" defeat to Ross Smith in World Series of Darts Finals; Luke Littler knocked out in last eight as hopes of clean sweep of titles dashed
Ross Smith thrashed Gerwyn Price 11-5 to become World Series of Darts champion, while Luke Littler's hopes of a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026 was dashed in the quarter-finals.
Smith won the last six legs, fired in 11 maximums, recorded back-to-back ton-plus finishes and went at 46 per cent on his doubles as he overwhelmed Price in Amsterdam on Sunday night to claim his second PDC major, after the 2022 European Championship.
Price, who missed a host of doubles in the back end of the match as his checkout percentage dropped to 26, has seven PDC majors in total, including three Grand Slams and the 2021 World Championship, but none since the World Series Finals in 2022.
Speaking bluntly afterwards on ITV4, the Welshman said: "I am playing some good darts, I am earning some good money. If I never win a major again I really don't care as long as I am doing well.
"I am gutted I've lost but if I never win another major then I have a good family, I have invested all my money. I really don't mind. I will be gutted for half an hour but on Tuesday I'll be in Tenerife.
"I was absolute rubbish in that final but don't take anything away from Ross. He was brilliant and took his opportunities."
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While Smith celebrates his fifth trophy of the season - this triumph in the Netherlands follows the Hungarian Darts Open and International Darts Open on the European Tour and a couple of Players Championship events - Littler is processing a shock defeat.
Having won the first five majors of the year - as well as the World Cup of Darts for England alongside compatriot Luke Humphries - Littler was hoping to claim all 11 this year, only to be trounced 10-4 by Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals.
Smith overcame Josh Rock in the last eight before dumping out remaining home hope Gian van Veen in the last four, while Price surged towards the end of matches to eliminate James Wade and Clayton before being floored by Smith.
Smith said: "It feels a bit mad, to be fair! I am absolutely made up with the win. I am so happy. [Price] is one of the best in the world, so to beat him you have to up your game.
"I always say in my interviews that I take each game as it comes. I play one game at a time. They are all finals and I give it my all. That is working for me at the moment."
Semi-finals Ross Smith 11-8 Gian van Veen Gerwyn Price 11-7 Jonny Clayton
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
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