Heartbroken Ross Smith was “devastated” after his record blitz of 19 maximums went to waste in a sudden-death cliff-hanger against Dirk van Duijvenbode.
European champion Smith squandered five match darts as the aubergine farmer edged a feisty encounter 4-3 in the tiebreaker, celebrating manically to mimic the former lorry driver's animated showboating. Smith had waved Van Duijvenbode sarcastically off stage during the break at 1-1, but the Dutchman had the last laugh, booking a last 16 showdown with compatriot Michael van Gerwen tomorrow.
The pair shared 31 trebles in the 20-bed lipstick, Smith with the lion's share of them, and he groaned: “I'm gutted – absolutely devastated. I can't believe I had three darts to win it from tops and didn't make them count.
