“I don’t want to be here to make the numbers up. I want to win titles, so I’m going to keep plodding along, but I need to up my game in certain places”
ROSS SMITH admitted it “hurts” after losing out in the final of the NEO.bet European Darts Open.
The World No.13 was outgunned by pal Dave Chisnall 8-6 in Leverkusen on Sunday night.
Smith had reached his second European Tour final of 2024 with impressive wins against Josh Rock, Gian van Veen and Michael Smith on Finals Day.
The former European Champion survived two match darts against both Rock and Van Veen, averaging 106.39 to end Rock’s pursuit of back-to-back European Tour titles.
The 35-year-old then withstood a valiant fightback from 2023 World Champion Smith in the semi-finals, closing out a 7-5 victory having earlier raced into a 6-2 lead.
Smith had finished runner-up to Gary Anderson in the European Darts Grand Prix in April and added: “This one definitely hurts.
“I keep losing in semi-finals or finals so it’s bugging me a bit, but full credit to Dave - he’s one of my best mates and that 132 checkout was an absolute killer.
“I don’t want to be here to make the numbers up. I want to win titles, so I’m going to keep plodding along, but I need to up my game in certain places.”
