UK Open: Despite match darts – Michael Smith loses eighth major final

Status: 01:13 a.m | Reading time: 4 minutes

Vbefore the final he was still confident. “I am the longest reigning Chinese Open champion. It’s getting boring,” said Michael Smith, referring to the words Master of Ceremonies John McDonald always uses to announce his performances. “Winner of the Shanghai Darts Masters 2018.”

An insignificant title for a professional in his class and a constant reminder that, despite great potential, it just wasn’t enough. He had been in a grand final seven times, most recently at the World Cup two months ago, but he had lost them all.

And that shouldn’t change at the UK Open either, although the general conditions were better than ever. Smith had been the dominant player of the weekend, taking out number one in the tournament with Gerwyn Price and throwing the most 180s. Opposite him in the final was Danny Noppert, number 19 in the world, who had been nervous for a long time.

The Dutchman, who never made it past the third round at the World Championships, had never won a major tournament at the PDC and could not retrieve his level in the final. At the end there was an average of 84.82 points in the statistics. Smith also knew the fans were on his side. Everything was done, but at the end the next big disappointment was waiting.

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“I dont know. It was absolute junk. My doubles were bad, my scoring was bad. Eight finals, eight defeats,” said the devastated “Bully Boy”. A 90.33 average and a third of successful attempts on the doubles courts were not enough.

Noppert with six triple-20 in the decider

Despite the historically weak scoring for a UK Open final, Noppert was at least able to take advantage of the chances that Smith repeatedly gave him and thanks to a double quota of over 50 percent he stayed in the game for a long time.

Until 8:8, when Noppert suddenly seemed to have lost his consistency at the checkout. The Dutchman missed four chances to break while Smith took his fourth and held the serve. In the 18th leg, the Dutchman again missed four check darts, but this time he was given a fifth chance and equalized to make it 9:9.

Smith now wobbled with victory in mind, but checked 68 points with two darts to make it 10-9. Noppert initially missed equalizing again on double 18, but after Smith missed a match dart on the bullseye with 124 points remaining, he nerve-rackingly made the decider perfect with the third arrow on double 4.

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A leg worth £60,000 (runner-up would receive £40,000, winner £100,000) and first major title. Smith had a throw, but couldn’t use this last advantage either. Noppert threw six of his 18 triple-20s in the decisive leg and had 40 points after twelve darts.

Smith waited at 146 points but only boarded a 32 before Noppert converted his first match dart to victory. “It’s been a long day, but I’m blown away. I can’t believe I’m standing here with the trophy,” said the 31-year-old West Friesian.

Smith, on the other hand, who missed his eighth match dart in his eighth major final, crowned Peter Wright with his run at the UK Open, as he did at the World Cup – this time to the new number one in the world rankings. He ended the Welshman’s 14-month streak at the top of the Order of Merit by beating Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals.

Small consolation: He himself advanced to fourth place in the ranking. And also James Wade, new third, passed Michael van Gerwen. Side notes on a final evening that was memorable, above all because of Michael Smith.

UK Open Quarterfinals

James Wade (ENG) – Keane Barry (IRL) 4:10

William O‘Connor (IRL) – Sebastian Bialecki (POL) 10:9

Danny Noppert (NED) – Damon Heta (AUS) 10: 5

Gerwyn Price (WAL) – Michael Smith (ENG) 7:10

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UK Open, semi-finals

Michael Smith (ENG) – Keane Barry (IRL) 11:6

Danny Noppert (NED) – William O’Connor (IRL) 11: 9

UK Open, Finale

Michael Smith (ENG) – Danny Noppert (NED) 10:11