Ross Smith wins his first European Tour title with victory over Ryan Searle in Riesa, 37-year-old beat Michael van Gerwen and Cameron Menzies on route to securing ninth PDC ranking crown
The win delivered his ninth PDC ranking title and strengthened his position inside the world’s top 16 after a series of composed, high‑quality performances.
Smith opened with a strong 6-3 win over Joe Cullen, averaging above 102 and finishing efficiently.
He followed that with a tense 6-4 success against Ricardo Pietreczko, breaking throw at the decisive moment to halt the German’s home charge.
A dramatic quarter‑final against Michael van Gerwen saw Smith edge a last‑leg decider despite trailing the Dutchman in the averages.
Momentum carried into the semi‑finals, where he swept past Cameron Menzies 7-0, capitalising on the Scot’s struggles to reach the final.
Against Searle, Smith established a 3-1 lead, absorbed a brief comeback, and then accelerated away by taking five of the next six legs to finally lift a European Tour trophy at the fifth attempt.
“I’m so happy to finally win one,” said Smith, who have lost his four previous European Tour finals. “It grates on your head, you think to yourself if you’re ever going to win one.”
Elsewhere, Rob Cross reached the semi‑finals after surviving match darts against Ryan Joyce, while Menzies produced a remarkable turnaround against James Wade, winning six consecutive legs from 4-0 down to reach his first semi‑final of the season.
