Ross Smith's quest for a European Tour title remains unfulfilled after he fell to Gerwyn Price in the final of the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, Germany last weekend. Price secured an 8-6 victory, handing Smith his fourth defeat in as many European Tour finals.
The loss highlights a stark contrast in Smith's performance across different tournament formats. On the Players Championship circuit, he boasts an impressive 77.8% win rate in finals, with seven victories from nine appearances. These events, played without large stages or crowds, seem to suit his scoring power and natural flow. However, on the European Tour—which features stages, international travel, and often boisterous crowds—his record stands at 0%, with zero wins from four finals.
Despite this European Tour struggle, Smith has proven he can handle pressure, as evidenced by his European Championship victory, where he won his sole major final to date. The disparity suggests his performances are highly context-dependent, influenced by factors like timing, form on the day, and opposition caliber. With his proven quality, it may only be a matter of time before he breaks this negative streak on the European Tour.
