Nine-Dart Smith Seals Barnsley Title

Ross Smith picked up his 2^nd PDC ranking title of the year on Saturday, after defeating Damon Heta 8-6 in the final of Players Championship 28, as the PDC Pro Tour four-day header came to a close at Barnsley Metrodome.

Smith, who begins his title defence at the European Championship this forthcoming Thursday, began the day with a 6-2 victory against Former World Youth Championship Finalist, Nathan Rafferty, before whitewashing Belgium’s Robbie Knops and hitting a nine-dart leg along the way. The Kent star went on to defeat Robert Owen, Niels Zonneveld, Ricky Evans and Dom Taylor, to set up a clash with Heta.

The final began with the pair holding throw in the opening two legs, before Heta charged infront by rattling off three consecutive legs in 12,13 and 18 darts respectively to move 4-1 ahead and halfway to victory. The tie then saw four straight holds of throw, with Heta leading 6-3, before Smith fought back, by winning five consecutive legs and sealing the victory in Leg 14 with a 13 darter to pick up a second title of the year and a fourth in his PDC career.

Heta’s run to the final saw Australia’s Number One record victories on the day against Alan Soutar, Karel Sedlacek, Scott Waites, Martin Schindler, Luke Woodhouse and Mickey Mansell, before being denied by Smith the chance to win a third Players Championship title of the year.

Elsewhere, there were Quarter Final runs for 5x World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld and last weekend’s German Darts Champion Ricardo Pietreczko, whilst the likes of Gary Anderson, Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall were amongst the high profile first round casualties.

The PDC Pro Tour action returns on November 1-2^nd at Barnsley Metrodome, as the Players Championship season comes to an end, with spots up for grabs at the Players Championship Finals and the World Championship.