Ross Smith clinched another major title this past Sunday, taking home the WSoD Finals, and suddenly everyone in the darts world is talking about his shot at the 2027 Premier League lineup. This is a guy who’s been grinding for a decade, becoming a relevant name in the sport, but this win after nearly four years without a major is setting the stage for his biggest push yet to join the elite Premier League field.
The Big Win With A Massive Catch
Smith has been on a serious roll, making huge strides in the last couple of years. He was already known for that 2022 European Championship win, but this WSoD Finals victory is a powerful new addition to his resume. Seriously, he was quietly having one of the best years in the PDC, but over the past month, “quietly” is no longer the word. Smith has racked up two PC event titles and two ET event titles in 2026, plus two runner-up finishes. That’s a phenomenal run! This major win on Sunday was his first in almost four years, a huge moment for him.
But here’s the kicker, the one detail that could make or break this whole Premier League dream: this major title, the WSoD Finals, is *unranked*. Yeah, you read that right. All that prize money Ross Smith hauled in? None of it gets added to the Main Order of Merit. If it had, he’d be sitting pretty, climbing well into the top-10, probably around #7. Instead, it’s a huge victory with a phantom impact on his immediate OoM standing. Talk about a gut punch for his ranking ambitions!
The Path To The Premier League Is Wide Open, But Tough
He’s been absolutely crushing it on the Pro Tour in recent years, but his major performances have been a bit quieter until recently, outside of a couple of quarterfinal runs at the Matchplay and a semifinal finish at the 2024 PC Finals. That could actually work to his advantage, though. He won’t be defending a ton of prize money in the majors leading up to the PC Finals, which means every solid performance he delivers will be a net gain, pushing him higher without the burden of defending massive points.
Make no mistake, his performances at *those* upcoming events are what will truly seal his fate for a 2027 Premier League spot. Don’t count him out, not even for a second. Sure, he still has a lot to prove, and he’s had a bit of luck with the fields he’s encountered, but his numbers are constantly climbing. The man is clearly up for any task thrown his way. Consistent quarterfinal runs with a few semifinal or better results sprinkled in? That’s the formula Smith needs to squeeze into that Premier League field.
The Numbers Game And What’s Next
As things stand right now, he most likely wouldn’t be in the eight-player Premier League lineup. However, if they decide to expand the field to 10 players, or any other number, his odds jump significantly. He’s currently projected to be World #11 after the World Championship. If he can just claw his way up a few more spots in the rankings, it will massively boost his case. On the brighter side, he’s provisionally the #1 seed at the European Championship and he’s already sitting at #7 on the PC Order of Merit.
The heat is on for Ross Smith. He’s proven he can win majors, even unranked ones, and he’s showing up big on the Pro Tour. The next few majors are everything for his Premier League dream. Can he put together those consistent deep runs and climb those few crucial spots in the world rankings? The darts world is watching, ready to see if Smith can make that final, powerful push.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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