MICHAEL Smith sealed the second European Tour title of his career as he defeated Benito van de Pas to win the International Darts Open in Riesa on Sunday.
After a slow start to the weekend, Smith returned to form on the final day, producing some outstanding darts to defeat Terry Jenkins, Ian White and van de Pas on his way to victory on a day which saw Michael van Gerwen’s 100 percent record on the European Tour this year ended.
Smith's path to glory would not be simple though as the Bully Boy won through in a deciding leg against Jenkins in the opening game of the day, with a fifth leg 129 checkout the highlight.
White would prove a similarly tough test for the Smith in the semis as the 44-year-old also entered the match on the back of a dramatic 6-5 victory as he edged a stunning clash with Stephen Bunting – which included an incredible 11 180s - averaging 105.12.
With just one leg in the match at 4-3, Smith turned on the style as he first checked out 150 in the penultimate leg before finishing the job in the next with an exhibition 120 finish hitting 20, Bull, Bull.
And the St Helens thrower would hold his nerve in the final as he kicked on after an even start to the match to break twice and open up a commanding three leg lead at 5-2.
Although Smith would miss six match darts in the penultimate leg it would not stop him from swiftly wrapping up the victory as he recorded his highest checkout of the match in the final leg, taking out 88 on double seven to secure the £25,000 top prize and add another title to his rapidly expanding PDC CV.
“I’m really chuffed, this is one of the best tournaments I’ve ever played in and I’m unbeaten in East Germany and it’s two out of two here for me now,” said Smith.
“I’ve had to settle down and I’ve had to become a man. I went back to being a boy again and so I had to grow up, I had to be steady and I had to be focused.
"I put on Twitter and Facebook this morning that it would be a great Father's Day present for me and my dad if I won here today and that's exactly what I've done so I'm delighted."
After becoming the first man to beat world number one Michael van Gerwen in this year’s European Tour in the final game of the afternoon, van de Pas saw off the tricky test of Justin Pipe in the last eight, winning 6-4.
The 22-year-old would continue his brilliant form on the day in his next match as he landed an exceptional 167 checkout in the final leg to defeat Kim Huybrechts – who had earlier seen off Dave Chisnall – to reach his first European Tour final.
The next PDC European Tour event will be the European Darts Open, to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany from July 10-12 and streamed live through www.LIVEPDC.TV and a series of bookmakers' websites. Ticket information is available at www.pdc-europe.tv .
2015 International Darts Open
Sunday June 21, Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Ian White 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Kim Huybrechts 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Benito van de Pas 6-4 Justin Pipe
Semi-Finals
Michael Smith 6-3 Ian White
Benito van de Pas 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
Final
Michael Smith 6-3 Benito van de Pas
Final - Leg-By-Leg
Michael Smith v Benito van de Pas
0-1: Van de Pas holds in unorthodox fashion, checking out 70 (18, D20, D6) to take the opening leg.
1-1: Smith kicks off the leg with the first maximum of the match before landing tops to level.
2-1: Smith lands another maximum before breaking with a 40 checkout after van de Pas had missed three darts to hold throw.
2-2: Van de Pas breaks straight back, hitting his first 180 of the match before checking out four to level.
3-2: Third straight break in the game as Smith kicks off with a 180 before storming ahead in the leg and nailing tops to move back in front.
4-2: Tops again for Smith as he finally holds and opens up a 4-2 lead in the final after van de Pas had hit his second 180 of the match.
5-2: Smith moves ahead again in the leg before taking out 40 on double ten to break throw again.
5-3: Smith misses six darts for the match and van de Pas punishes, taking out 32 to break back and reduce the deficit.
6-3: Smith breaks straight back though and wraps up the win in the following leg as he takes out 88 on D7 to seal a second European Tour title.
After a slow start to the weekend, Smith returned to form on the final day, producing some outstanding darts to defeat Terry Jenkins, Ian White and van de Pas on his way to victory on a day which saw Michael van Gerwen’s 100 percent record on the European Tour this year ended.
Smith's path to glory would not be simple though as the Bully Boy won through in a deciding leg against Jenkins in the opening game of the day, with a fifth leg 129 checkout the highlight.
White would prove a similarly tough test for the Smith in the semis as the 44-year-old also entered the match on the back of a dramatic 6-5 victory as he edged a stunning clash with Stephen Bunting – which included an incredible 11 180s - averaging 105.12.
With just one leg in the match at 4-3, Smith turned on the style as he first checked out 150 in the penultimate leg before finishing the job in the next with an exhibition 120 finish hitting 20, Bull, Bull.
And the St Helens thrower would hold his nerve in the final as he kicked on after an even start to the match to break twice and open up a commanding three leg lead at 5-2.
Although Smith would miss six match darts in the penultimate leg it would not stop him from swiftly wrapping up the victory as he recorded his highest checkout of the match in the final leg, taking out 88 on double seven to secure the £25,000 top prize and add another title to his rapidly expanding PDC CV.
“I’m really chuffed, this is one of the best tournaments I’ve ever played in and I’m unbeaten in East Germany and it’s two out of two here for me now,” said Smith.
“I’ve had to settle down and I’ve had to become a man. I went back to being a boy again and so I had to grow up, I had to be steady and I had to be focused.
"I put on Twitter and Facebook this morning that it would be a great Father's Day present for me and my dad if I won here today and that's exactly what I've done so I'm delighted."
After becoming the first man to beat world number one Michael van Gerwen in this year’s European Tour in the final game of the afternoon, van de Pas saw off the tricky test of Justin Pipe in the last eight, winning 6-4.
The 22-year-old would continue his brilliant form on the day in his next match as he landed an exceptional 167 checkout in the final leg to defeat Kim Huybrechts – who had earlier seen off Dave Chisnall – to reach his first European Tour final.
The next PDC European Tour event will be the European Darts Open, to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany from July 10-12 and streamed live through www.LIVEPDC.TV and a series of bookmakers' websites. Ticket information is available at www.pdc-europe.tv .
2015 International Darts Open
Sunday June 21, Evening Session (7pm-11pm local time, 6pm-10pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
Michael Smith 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Ian White 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Kim Huybrechts 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Benito van de Pas 6-4 Justin Pipe
Semi-Finals
Michael Smith 6-3 Ian White
Benito van de Pas 6-3 Kim Huybrechts
Final
Michael Smith 6-3 Benito van de Pas
Final - Leg-By-Leg
Michael Smith v Benito van de Pas
0-1: Van de Pas holds in unorthodox fashion, checking out 70 (18, D20, D6) to take the opening leg.
1-1: Smith kicks off the leg with the first maximum of the match before landing tops to level.
2-1: Smith lands another maximum before breaking with a 40 checkout after van de Pas had missed three darts to hold throw.
2-2: Van de Pas breaks straight back, hitting his first 180 of the match before checking out four to level.
3-2: Third straight break in the game as Smith kicks off with a 180 before storming ahead in the leg and nailing tops to move back in front.
4-2: Tops again for Smith as he finally holds and opens up a 4-2 lead in the final after van de Pas had hit his second 180 of the match.
5-2: Smith moves ahead again in the leg before taking out 40 on double ten to break throw again.
5-3: Smith misses six darts for the match and van de Pas punishes, taking out 32 to break back and reduce the deficit.
6-3: Smith breaks straight back though and wraps up the win in the following leg as he takes out 88 on D7 to seal a second European Tour title.