Ross Smith has clinched his second major darts title, winning the World Series of Darts Finals with a spectacular performance that saw him overcome darts superstar Gerwyn Price in a one-sided final. This victory marks a significant milestone for Smith, confirming his excellent form on the Pro Tour, while Gerwyn Price’s quest for another major trophy continues, extending a drought since 2022. Smith’s journey included a dominant semifinal win against Gian van Veen and culminated in a clinical final where he averaged nearly 104, leaving no doubt about his deserved championship.
Ross Smith Claims World Series Finals Crown
The World Series of Darts Finals, held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, delivered a thrilling conclusion as **Ross Smith emerged as the unexpected, yet thoroughly deserving, champion**. His victory follows an outstanding year on the Pro Tour, and this triumph marks his second major success on television, adding to his European Championship title from 2022. For his final opponent, **Gerwyn Price, the wait for a major trophy continues**, having not lifted one since the 2022 World Series Finals.
Semifinal Showdowns: Smith and Price Advance
Smith Overcomes Van Veen
The first semifinal saw two debutants at this stage, with **Ross Smith defeating Gian van Veen 11-8**. It was a disappointing end for the last remaining Dutchman, who struggled with an 86-average, well below his usual standard. After an even start, Smith broke to go 4-2 up when van Veen missed three crucial darts at double 16. However, van Veen’s biggest challenge was his scoring. Smith didn’t even need to be at his absolute best to maintain his lead, often closing legs in the sixth round. A **critical 109 checkout for a 15-darter** extended Smith’s lead to 7-4, and another break seemed to seal the match. Despite a direct re-break from van Veen to pull back to 6-8, Smith held his nerve, securing his own throws with two 15-darters and eventually converting his third match dart with a 17-darter.
Price Dominates Clayton
Gerwyn Price, after improving his head-to-head record against James Wade earlier in the day, continued his momentum by **defeating Jonny Clayton 11-7**, reversing three previous consecutive losses against his Welsh compatriot. Price began strongly with a 12-darter, while Clayton took until the third leg to find his rhythm. Price, however, made some uncharacteristic double errors, allowing Clayton to level at 3-3 with a 74 checkout. ‘The Ferret’ even briefly took the lead with a 12-darter but missed chances to extend his advantage before the break, making it 5-5.
The turning point came at 6-6 when **Clayton had a weak throwing leg**, which Price seized upon. With a stunning sequence of 15, 12, and 15 darts, clearing 117 points after Clayton missed the bullseye, Price surged to a 9-6 lead. Another 12-darter further extended his advantage to 10-6. Price then showed no mercy, closing out the match with an 85 finish, despite a brief wobble on match darts in one leg.
The Grand Final: Smith’s Unstoppable Performance
The final pitted two players against each other who had both been waiting for a major title since 2022. While Gerwyn Price is a multiple major winner, Ross Smith had the chance for his second, and he **seized it with a fantastic third session to claim an 11-5 victory**. His **average of nearly 104 points** was a testament to a thoroughly deserved title.
Smith faced some early misfortune, missing a 167 checkout on the bullseye and overshooting 69 points. Price capitalized, checking 66 points twice with his last dart to lead 2-1. However, Smith quickly countered, hitting **three 180s in two legs** and securing a 3-2 lead with an 11-darter. Despite not hitting the biggest checkouts initially, he extended his lead to 5-3 with a 13-darter. Price, shaking off his earlier errors, leveled the score in 11 arrows.
From that point on, it became a **one-way street in favor of Smith**. He clinically checked out 123 points via the bullseye and a stunning 127 points via double 8, after Price narrowly missed a 164 finish. Smith powered to an 8-5 lead as Price repeatedly faltered on double 20. Seizing the opportunity, **Smith clinically converted his very first match dart** to seal his victory. This TV title adds to his four tournament wins earlier this year, solidifying his status as a top contender.
Tournament Overview and Prize Money
The World Series of Darts Finals is an invitational tournament, meaning the prize money does not count towards the PDC Order of Merit.
Match Results – Sunday, September 20, 2026:
- Semifinals:
- Ross Smith 11-8 Gian van Veen (Average: 90.77 – 85.84)
- Gerwyn Price 11-7 Jonny Clayton (Average: 104.07 – 95.62)
- Final:
- Ross Smith 11-5 Gerwyn Price (Average: 103.89 – 97.28)
Tournament Format:
- First Round: Best of 11 Legs
- Second Round: Best of 19 Legs
- Quarterfinals: Best of 19 Legs
- Semifinals: Best of 21 Legs
- Final: Best of 21 Legs
Prize Money Breakdown:
- Winner: £100,000
- Runner-Up: £60,000
- Semifinalists: £30,000
- Quarterfinalists: £17,500
- Last 16: £10,000
- First Round: £5,000
- Total Prize Fund: £450,000
What’s Next for Darts?
After a one-day break, the darts action continues on Tuesday and Wednesday in Den Bosch, Netherlands, with the Players Championships 29 & 30. Fans can typically follow major darts tournaments through various sports broadcasters and dedicated streaming services that provide live coverage of these events.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
