Darts is not just about players coming dancing on the stage or is it about player shouts at the crowd. There are some of the greatest dart players who will just step on the oche, throw their darts, and the rest will be done by the results. One such player who does exactly the same and is also on the list of some of the most popular darts player is Ross Smith darts. A professional darts player who competes in PDC events and is nicknamed “Smudger” become the top player in 2024. He is one of those players who are known for being an underrated talents who earned respect in the sports through his talent and resilience. He got the spotlight in 2022 after winning his first major title at the European Championship. This blog post will be the story of how Ross Smith become the darts champion coming from Dover.
Ross Smith Darts Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ross Smith |
| Nickname | Smudger |
| Date of Birth | 12-Jan-1989 |
| Place of Birth | Chatham, England |
| Hometown | Dover, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Playing Style | Right-handed |
| Walk-on Song | Red Light Spells Danger — Billy Ocean |
| Darts Used | 22g Unicorn Signature |
| PDC Major Titles | 1 (2022 European Championship) |
| Total Career Titles | 16 |
| Total PDC Ranking Titles | 8 |
| Nine-Dart Finishes | Multiple (inc. two in one day, May 2025) |
| Peak World Ranking | No. 9 (2024) |
| Current World Ranking | No. 15 |
| Career Prize Money | £1,259,745 |
| Top TV Average | 107.92 |
Ross Smith Darts Early Life and Background
Ross Smith was born on 12 January 1989 in Chatham, England, and grew up in the Dover area of Kent. Ross Smith is among those players from England. He grew up around darts and started loving the sport from an early age. Darts have always been a big part of the culture in Dover, which is a port town in the south of England. The game is played in pubs, clubs, and local halls across the country. Smith’s career in darts began in the BDO, where he got the competitive exposure for the sport. Ross took his time to make his skills better, learn the game properly and refine his game. These early years were the time that helped him not only at the regional level but also as he reached the world championship stage.
Ross Smith Darts Early Career
Smith’s career in the darts competition began with the BDO. It was a traditional segment that most English players took part in. His hard work here helped him earn a place among the top players. During the 2009 BDO World Darts Championship, he qualified by winning one of five places in the qualifiers in Bridlington. He defeated Stuart Kellet, Kevin Simm, and Henny van der Ster and finally qualified by defeating Scotland’s Don Haughton.
Then he again got his chance in the 2011 BDO World Darts Championship, where he was able to beat Tony O’Shea 3–1 in the first round and Willy van de Wiel 4–1 in the second round. But he lost the round against champion Martin Adams 1–5 in the quarter-finals. After losing against the player who won the tournament, it was the proof of the talent that Ross holds and how he will be making great strides in the game in the future.
Ross Smith’s Darts Career With Switch to PDC
Now it was time for Ross to step to PDC. It was announced after the end of the 2012 BDO World Championship that Ross would compete in the rival PDC’s Q School the next season. Among all the professional darts tournaments, Q School is one of the most stressful events. This involves four days of intense competition where the player who wins will get a PDC tour card. If Ross wins this, it could become the turning point in his career. Ross reached his first semi-final on the PDC tour in April at the seventh UK Open Qualifier. During this tournament, he lost to John Part. But he was slowly progressing. He started to up his game and showed everyone why he belonged on that stage. After this loss, Ross was able to win four events on the PDC Challenge Tour during 2013 and topped the Order of Merit. This means he got a place in the the 2014 World Championship, and a two-year PDC tour card.
This was the same year when Ross threw a nine-dart finish in the second round of the 2013 Gibraltar Darts Trophy. It was the match against Adrian Lewis, but Smith lost with 6-5.
Ross Smith Darts Struggle
As it happens with every player, there was a time when Ross’s life got in the way of his career. For Ross, it was 2015, which many even call his rough patch, because it was the year he welcomed a child into his life and with a new job at hand, he had no time to prepare for his tournament. But one thing that many people appreciated about him is how he was honest about the new changes in his life, and how they affected him. He was not one of those player who would make excuses in such situations. He hit a nine-darter on the first day of 2016 Q School and was able to eliminate several players during the final day. This ended with a victory of 5-4 against Mick McDowan. He got another two-year tour card.
Now it was time for Ross to get back up, and getting the tour card back was the first step towards it. He started winning matches and climbing the rankings. He competed and won matches in the PDC. the breakthrough in his career came in the early 2020s during the European Championship victory that helped him reach the top 20 ranking. This was only possible because of years of practice.
Ross Smith Darts During the 2022 European Championship
A major part of Ross’s career has been the 2022 European Championship, which many even call the time he gave his best performance. It was in October 2022 in Dortmund, Germany, where Smith won his first PDC major title. He defeated Michal Smith with a score of 11-8 in the final. This was not just a simple win, but it helped him climb to the top of No. 9 in the world ranking in 2024. Winning such a title is not an easy thing, and beating a world-class player requires staying focused under pressure, especially when it matters the most.
After the 2022 championship win, Ross was able to put in another excellent performance in 2024. He was in his best form in 2024 and made a major semi-final appearance at the Players Championship Finals, where he beat Damon Heta and Jonny Clayton. He also reached the finals of two European Tour events, losing 8–6 to Gary Anderson in the European Darts Championship and 8–6 to Dave Chisnall in the European Darts Open final.
Just when everyone thought that Ross’s career had peaked, 2025 came, and with that, one of the greatest moments of his career took place. During the Players Championship 16 in Hildesheim, Germany, on 13th May, Ross hit nine-dart finishes in a single opening-round match. It was his match against Dylan Slevin, and gave him the win with 6-4. He also won that Players Championship event without dropping a single leg from the quarter-final stage. Such a dominant performance and a match without any errors became a major part of his career.
Ross Smith Darts Career and Achievements
- Won 16 career titles in total across his professional career
- Earned over £1.25 million in career prize money
- Claimed 8 PDC ranking titles throughout his time on the circuit
- Competed in nine PDC World Championships
- Took part in six European Championships
- Appeared in four Grand Slams of Darts
- Featured in eight Players Championship Finals
- Gave multiple nine-dart finishes across his career
Conclusion
Ross Smith has worked very hard to become one of the top darts players in the world. From his early days in Dover to winning the 2022 European Championship, his journey shows dedication and talent. With many great performances and achievements in his career, Ross Smith continues to be a strong and respected player in professional darts.
F.A.Q.
What is Ross Smith’s nickname in darts?
Ross Smith is nicknamed “Smudger” and is known for his calm and composed playing style on the PDC circuit.
What is Ross Smith’s biggest career achievement?
His biggest achievement is winning the 2022 European Championship, where he defeated Michael Smith 11–8 in the final in Dortmund, Germany.
What is Ross Smith’s highest world ranking?
Ross Smith reached his peak world ranking of No. 9 in 2024, which is the best position he has ever held in his professional career.
How many nine-dart finishes has Ross Smith hit?
Ross Smith has hit multiple nine-dart finishes in his career, including the incredible feat of throwing two nine-darters in a single match in May 2025.
What darts does Ross Smith use?
Ross Smith plays with a 22g Unicorn Signature dart, which suits his controlled and consistent throwing style on the professional circuit.
Where is Ross Smith from?
Ross Smith was born in Chatham and grew up in Dover, a port town in the south of England, where he first developed his love for darts.
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