Ross Smith secured his seventh career Pro Tour title at Players Championship 5 in Leicester, delivering a dominant performance that culminated in an 8-2 victory over Chris Dobey in the final. The tournament also saw strong showings from German players Niko Springer and Ricardo Pietreczko, both reaching the Last 16. However, it was a day of early exits for some top seeds, including Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock, and Jonny Clayton. Chris Dobey also lit up the oche with a spectacular nine-darter.
Smith’s Dominant March to Victory
Ross “The Smudger” Smith was in formidable form throughout Players Championship 5, remaining unbeaten and showcasing exceptional darts. His journey to the title included a series of high-average performances:
- He started with a 6-3 win against Justin Hood, followed by a 103 average in a victory over Cor Dekker.
- A stunning 106 average saw him dispatch former World Champion Michael Smith 6-1.
- Further victories over German talent Niko Springer (6-2) and the experienced Dave Chisnall (6-3) propelled the 37-year-old Englishman into the semi-finals.
In the semi-final, Smith defeated Karel Sedlacek 7-4, marking Sedlacek’s second career appearance in a Pro Tour semi-final. The final saw Smith face Chris Dobey. Smith quickly asserted his dominance, securing the first five legs in a row with superior scoring. Although Dobey managed to avoid a whitewash by taking two legs, Smith closed out the match with brutal timing, winning the final three legs to seal an 8-2 victory and the £15,000 top prize.
Upsets and Notable Moments
Players Championship 5 proved challenging for several top-ranked players:
- Top seed Gerwyn Price suffered a first-round exit for the second time this year, losing to Adam Lipscombe.
- Fellow Premier League stars Josh Rock (5-6 vs. James Hurrell) and Jonny Clayton (5-6 vs. Connor Scutt) also stumbled at their opening hurdles.
- The struggles continued for darts legends Raymond van Barneveld (3-6 vs. Richard Veenstra) and Dimitri van den Bergh (3-6 vs. Martijn Dragt), with “The Dreammaker’s” concerns amplified by a low 77 average.
- A highlight of the day was Chris Dobey’s incredible nine-darter in the opening leg of his second-round match against Ricky Evans.
German and Austrian Players Make Their Mark
Two German players, Niko Springer and Ricardo Pietreczko, enjoyed particularly successful runs, reaching the Last 16:
Niko Springer’s Strong Showing
“The Meenzer Bub” Niko Springer displayed impressive form. He comfortably defeated Ryan Meikle 6-3 before navigating a tense decider against Wesley Plaisier, checking out in 16 darts. Springer then capitalized on a favorable draw, beating Cam Crabtree 6-4 to reach the Last 16, a significant result given his recent form. His run was eventually ended by the eventual champion, Ross Smith, who won their encounter 6-2.
Ricardo Pietreczko’s Resurgence
Ricardo “Pikachu” Pietreczko, who has sometimes struggled on the Pro Tour, found his rhythm in Leicester. He secured 6-3 victories against Thomas Lovely and Scott Waites. His most impressive performance came with a 98 average in a deciding-leg win against Damon Heta. Pietreczko’s journey ended with a 4-6 defeat to Dave Chisnall, where he narrowly missed a dart at bull for a deciding leg.
Other German-Speaking Players
- Max Hopp staged a comeback from 1-4 down to beat Rob Cross 6-5 in a thrilling opener, hitting a 13-darter in the decider. He then defeated Derek Coulson 6-3 before his run ended in the third round against Christian Kist.
- Martin Schindler exited in the second round, losing to Adam Paxton.
- Lukas Wenig secured a solid 6-2 win against Chris Landman but lost a deciding leg to Brendan Dolan in the second round.
- Gabriel Clemens held a 5-1 lead against Joe Cullen but ultimately lost 5-6 in the second round after “The Rockstar” mounted a strong comeback.
- Austrian star Mensur Suljovic played exceptionally well, including a 107 average against Callan Rydz in the second round, but still lost 3-6 as Rydz posted an even higher average.
- Nine German-speaking players exited in the first round, including Arno Merk, Marvin Kraft, Dominik Grüllich, Yorick Hofkens, Leon Weber, Kai Gotthardt, Maximilian Czerwinski, Matthias Ehlers, and Stefan Bellmont (Switzerland). Pascal Rupprecht withdrew, and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez did not register for the event.
Tournament Structure and Accessibility
Players Championship events feature a clear prize money structure, with the winner taking home £15,000 and the runner-up £10,000. Matches are played as best of 11 legs up to the semi-finals, best of 13 legs for the semi-finals, and best of 15 legs for the final. While these Pro Tour tournaments are not broadcast on traditional television, fans can follow the action live. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) offers an official livestream covering four boards, and all matches can be tracked via a live scorer service, providing real-time updates of every game.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
