Four lost finals on the European Tour, including the European Darts Grand Prix earlier this year. Ross Smith carried that burden for years before laying it down for good in Riesa. The Englishman nicknamed 'Smudger' beat Ryan Searle 8-3 in the final of the International Darts Open to finally claim his first PDC European Tour title. A victory that raises questions about the future: can he maintain this level, what does this tournament reveal about the World Matchplay race, and what does Searle's latest unfortunate final tell us about his career? This article takes a look at every issue from this German weekend.
A liberating title for "Smudger"
Five wins from five matches. That's how far Ross Smith has come to become champion in Riesa. The journey is worth examining in detail, as it says a lot about the nature of this title.
An unforgiving picture
Smith was not favoured with a lenient draw. In the second round, he ousted Joe Cullen 6-3 with an average of 102.17, one of his best figures of the tournament. In the last 16, Ricardo Pietreczko put up more resistance but lost 6-4. The real test comes in the quarter-finals.
| Tour | Adversary | Score | Smithverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 2 | Joe Cullen | 6-3 | 102.17 |
| Eighths | Ricardo Pietreczko | 6-4 | 92.50 |
| Quarts | Michael van Gerwen | 6-5 | 88.17 |
| Semi-final | Cameron Menzies | 7-0 | 97.42 |
| Final | Ryan Searle | 8-3 | 90.81 |
Eliminating Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the quarters represents the pivotal performance of this tournament for Smith. "Mighty Mike" had just beaten Damon Heta 6-3 in the previous round and was among the logical favourites. Smith did not produce his best average that evening, 88.17, but he held his nerve under pressure and converted at the decisive moment. This is precisely what great players know how to do.
The semi-final against Cameron Menzies contrasts with this tight scenario. Smith unrolled an authoritative 7-0 at an average of 97.42. Then in the final, Searle never found a way into the game. 8-3, no contest.
What this title changes in practical terms
Ross Smith already had one major title and several victories on the Players Championship Tour. Now he joins a select group of players who have won trophies on these three separate PDC tours. This is not symbolic: it validates a complete palette, the ability to win in different formats, environments and stakes.
For a player long seen as an indisputable talent but without a European record, this title closes a painful chapter. Four lost finals are a real psychological scar in professional sport. Smith chose the right moment to end it.
Regularity, the real challenge ahead for Smith
The title is real. So are the questions that accompany it. Ross Smith has never been a quiet back-row player: when he's on form, he'll inflict damage on anyone. The problem lies in the frequency of those periods of form.
A "spurts" player
His game progresses in flashes. He emerges from anonymity with a standout performance, a title, a final, then slips back into more ordinary form before re-emerging. This pattern, repeated over several seasons, has kept him in an intermediate zone in the world rankings when his technical level would justify a stable top 10.
His average in the final at Riesa, 90.81, illustrates this paradox. He won the match comfortably, but the figure does not reflect a player in a state of absolute grace. Smith won because Searle was even less effective, but also because he knew how to capitalise on key moments. The difference between a good player and a great player is often where it is played.
The window that opens
A first title of this type can act as a trigger. Players like Gary Anderson or Rob Cross have experienced similar trajectories: a long wait before something clicks, followed by a more prolific period. The question is whether Smith belongs in that category or whether Riesa will remain a nice isolated interlude.
The next few months will provide the answer. The World Matchplay in Blackpool represents the immediate step. This major tournament, played in pure legacies, suits Smith's attacking profile. If he confirms his form there, any doubts about his consistency will seriously begin to fade.
The other lessons from Riesa
Riesa didn't just crown Smith. The tournament reshuffled important cards in several races, including the World Matchplay.
Van Gerwen and Van Veen miss the mark
Michael van Gerwen had arrived in Riesa as a credible favourite. His 6-3 win over Damon Heta in the last 16 looked to kick-start his tournament. Then the quarter-final against Smith put an end to everything: a 5-6 defeat, a disappointing performance according to the observers present. Van Gerwen has now gone a full year without a European Tour title. For a player of his standing, a nine-time PDC world champion, this drought is beginning to take its toll.
Gian van Veen also had the chance to strike hard. After a solid 6-3 win over Connor Scutt, he produced perhaps his best match of the weekend against Kevin Doets: 6-2 with an average of 103.51. But in the semi-final, Ryan Searle imposed his law 6-3. Van Veen thus remains in this group of very capable players but still without a title on the European Tour, a group that was reduced this weekend with Smith's entry into the prize list.
Cross, Menzies and Heta strengthen their position for Blackpool
The World Matchplay takes place at Blackpool in July. The top 16 averages on the ProTour Order of Merit determine the qualifiers. Riesa has moved several sliders.
Rob Cross: the 2018 world champion reached the semi-finals in Riesa, a result made all the more valuable by the fact that he had not yet qualified for the event prior to the tournament. He is now 15th in the ProTour Order of Merit. "Voltage" is gradually returning to a level close to his best, and his fans have reason to believe again.
Cameron Menzies: first semi-final on the European Tour for the Scot. It wasn't a straight road: he was 0-4 down to both Josh Rock and James Wade before reversing both situations. This kind of comeback is indicative of a real change in mindset. Menzies is 16th on the Order of Merit ProTour, in the qualifying zone.
Damon Heta: the Australian also consolidates his position with a run to the last 16, enough to collect useful points in this tight race.
In contrast, Kim Huybrechts, Karel Sedlacek and Sebastian Bialecki are losing ground on these players and seeing their qualification for the World Matchplay complicated.
Dave Chisnall in big trouble
A special mention for Dave Chisnall, eliminated on day one with an average of 82 and a 0-6 defeat. For a player who has been in the World Matchplay continuously since 2010, the current situation is alarming. This series of disappointing performances could cost him his place at Blackpool for the first time in fifteen years.
Ryan Searle: another final, still without a European title
Ryan Searle played another final on the European Tour. He left without a trophy. This scenario is beginning to define part of his professional career, in the same way that Smith was before this weekend.
A recurring finalist
Searle had already lost a final on the European Tour before Riesa. His semi-final against Van Veen (6-3) had been solid, controlled. But in the final, against a determined Smith, he couldn't find the resources to turn things around. The score of 3-8 is testament to an evening when he never really existed in the match.
What sets Searle apart from the other players without a European title is his overall consistency on tour. He performs, he reaches the advanced stages of tournaments, but the final step resists him. "Hollywood" has enough talent to take that step: the question is when the opportunity will present itself.
Reasons not to despair
A lost final is not just a disappointment. It is also proof that the level is there. Searle dismissed Van Veen, one of the hottest players of the moment, before coming up against Smith in his best version of the day. In such a context, a 3-8 defeat does not fundamentally call into question the player's potential.
Remaining in that list of talented players still waiting for their first European title are Chris Dobey, Gian van Veen, Danny Noppert, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Andrew Gilding. A slowly shrinking group, but one in which Searle will have to find his way out sooner or later.
Blackpool in the firing line: what can we expect next?
The World Matchplay represents the next big appointment for the majority of this weekend's players in Riesa. Ross Smith arrives in Blackpool with a different status to the one he had a week earlier. A liberating title in his legs, an opponent like Searle clearly beaten in the final: the mental context is favourable.
The race for qualification remains tense for Cross and Menzies. Their results at Riesa keep them in the zone, but a bad weekend at a Players Championship could change things. The PDC circuit leaves no margin for rest.
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, needs to get back to a level that justifies his ranking at Blackpool. His recent performances on the European Tour raise questions that only the major tournaments can answer. The Winter Gardens will be, as it is every year, an implacable revealer.
