​Ross Smith thrashes Gerwyn Price to win World Series of Darts Finals originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Ross Smith claimed his first World Series of Darts Finals title with a dominant 11-5 victory over Gerwyn Price in Amsterdam on Sunday. The 37-year-old Englishman collected the £100,000 top prize at the AFAS Live and secured a second TV event crown of his career. He becomes the sixth different winner of the tournament.Smith produced a superb run through the field. He posted back-to-back averages over 100 against Kevin Doets and Daryl Gurney, then defeated Josh Rock 10-7 in the quarter-finals. A high-quality 11-8 semi-final win over Gian van Veen – featuring seven 180s – booked his place in the final.MORE ELITE DARTS COVERAGE: Check Out Our Devoted PDC AreaIn the showpiece, Price fought back to level at 5-5 with an 11-darter, but Smith responded in devastating fashion. Consecutive checkouts of 123 and 127 sparked a six-leg surge, and a 14-dart break of throw sealed the victory. Smith finished with 11 maximums and an average of almost 104.“I’m absolutely made up with the win, I’m just so happy,” said Smith.“You’re playing Gerwyn Price, one of the best players in the world. To beat this man is special. Everything has clicked for me since the World Series and Euro Tour events.”DARTS PLAYER MERCHANDISE AND COLLECTABLES AT OUR DARTSWORLD STORE!Price, who had earlier produced a 103.86 average and 170 finish to beat James Wade, then defeated Jonny Clayton 11-7 in the semis, admitted he was well beaten.“I was rubbish in the final, but Ross was brilliant. He took his chances at the right times. I’m disappointed, but I’m playing good darts and earning good money.”In the other semi-final, Clayton ended Luke Littler’s 330-day unbeaten run in Premier events with a 10-4 victory, while van Veen edged Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-8.Smith’s triumph caps an impressive year and confirms his return to the top table of the sport.For the full stories and more in depth coverage of everything darts, together with the latest issues of their legendary publications, head on over todartsworld.com