Ross Smith is hoping to continue his breakthrough run in Blackpool when he takes on James Wade for a place in the Betfred World Matchplay semi-finals on Thursday.
Smith suffered back-to-back first round exits at the Winter Gardens in 2021 and 2023, but impressive wins over Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price have moved him to within three games of glory.
The former European Champion delivered a finishing masterclass to defeat Rock in round one, pinning 71% of his attempts at double to dispatch the Northern Irishman 10-4.
However, it was Smith’s sensational scoring-power that proved decisive against Price, as he crashed in 13 maximums to wrap up an epic 11-9 victory.
“It was an amazing game to play in,” reflected Smith, who averaged 98.7 to dump out the 2022 runner-up.
“I have so much respect for Gezzy. He’s an unbelievable player, he’s a World Champion, so I’m really happy with the win and my performance in the second half [of the game].
“It was difficult to find my rhythm early on, but you have to grab yourself by the scruff of the neck and go: ‘Come on, let’s dig deep now.’
“I want to kick on and do something. I’ve had enough of being a nearly man or losing out to a top player 6-5 or 7-6.”
Smith has been one of the sport’s stand-out performers in 2024, reaching two European Tour finals in the space of five events to reaffirm his credentials on the big stage.
The 35-year-old also claimed his fourth Players Championship title in Milton Keynes earlier this month, and he’s confident of adding the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy to his title haul.
“I honestly believe I can win this,” declared Smith – featuring in his first televised ranking quarter-final since his European Championship victory in October 2022.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t feel I could win it. I have won one major, and there’s nothing stopping me from winning another.
“Last year I feel like I probably played better than I have this year, but this year I’ve been more consistent.
“I’m grinding results out now. Look at people like James Wade - he knows how to dig deep and grind results out.
“I’ve been playing the game for 20 years but I’m still learning, and I think that’s important.”
Smith will take on 2007 winner Wade for a semi-final spot on Thursday evening, after the left-hander ended Nathan Aspinall’s reign as World Matchplay champion with a battling 11-8 victory on Tuesday.
Aspinall overturned a 4-0 deficit to lead 8-7, although Wade was undeterred, reeling off the next four legs without reply to advance to the quarter-finals in Blackpool for the first time since 2019.
“I've got nothing to prove,” insisted Wade, who dumped out Dutch number two Danny Noppert in his opening round tie.
“No one has won as many tournaments as me apart from Michael [van Gerwen] and Phil [Taylor].
“If people think I’m not a danger, that’s a great thing for me, and I think anybody close to me would tell you I’m a fighter, and I don’t give up.
“Lots of people will think that I can’t get to a final or I can’t win a TV tournament anymore, but I think differently!”
Thursday’s second quarter-final will see top seed Luke Humphries continue his title challenge against 2020 champion Dimitri Van den Bergh, in a repeat of March’s UK Open decider.
Humphries averaged 108.76 in his remarkable first round victory over Ricardo Pietreczko, and he registered another ton-topping average to break Stephen Bunting’s resistance in an absorbing last 16 tie.
The World Champion ran out an 11-7 winner against Bunting, winning six of the last seven legs to progress with a 102 average and maintain his bid for a maiden World Matchplay crown.
Van den Bergh created headlines with his nine-dart heroics against Martin Schindler on Sunday, and the Belgian put in another stellar display to sweep aside 2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton 11-5 in round two.
The UK Open champion was devastating on the outer ring in the opening exchanges, converting 108 and 112 checkouts at crucial moments to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time in five years.
2024 Betfred World Matchplay
Thursday July 18 (2000 BST)
Quarter-Finals x2
Ross Smith v James Wade
Luke Humphries v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Best of 31 legs