England’s Ross Smith claimed his first World Series of Darts Finals title by defeating Gerwyn Price 11-5 in the final at AFAS Live in Amsterdam on Sunday, September 20, 2026, securing the £100,000 top prize after a dominant run of form.
Ross Smith captured the sixth different World Series of Darts Finals trophy in Amsterdam, capping a stellar campaign with an emphatic victory in the championship match. The 37-year-old Englishman defeated Wales’ Gerwyn Price 11-5 in a final that saw Smith unleash a barrage of heavy scoring and crucial checkouts after the interval.
Path to the AFAS Live Showpiece
Smith’s journey to the title in the Dutch capital required navigating a demanding draw. He impressed earlier against Kevin Doets and Daryl Gurney with consecutive ton-plus averages to reach Finals Day, where he resumed his title pursuit with a 10-7 victory over Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock.
The Kent-based star then faced Dutch number one Gian van Veen in the semi-finals. Smith overcame the home favourite 11-8, aided by seven 180s and two ton-plus finishes, earning his spot in just the second Premier event final of his career.
Smith, who suffered first-round exits in New Zealand and Australia in his only two other appearances in the 2026 World Series, expressed that honestly, he was thrilled with the win and just so happy, adding that when playing Gerwyn Price—one of the best players in the world—you have to raise your game.
Price’s Campaign and the Final Showdown
Gerwyn Price reached the final seeking a third World Series crown. The former World Champion missed just one dart at double against Brody Klinge in his opening match on Friday before brushing aside Canada’s Jim Long. The Welsh number one then advanced past England’s James Wade 10-7 in the quarter-finals, winning the final four legs on the spin in 13, 13, 10 and 12 darts, highlighted by a 170 finish and a stellar 103.86 average. Price subsequently defeated compatriot Jonny Clayton 11-7 in the semi-finals, reeling off six of the last seven legs.
In the title match, the 2020 and 2022 winner battled back from early pressure to level the score at 5-5 after striking an 11-darter. However, Smith seized control after the interval. The Englishman reeled off six consecutive legs, kick-started by back-to-back checkouts of 123 and 127, before sealing the championship with a 14-dart break of throw as Price’s game deserted him.
Price assessed that he had been completely useless in that final, though he emphasized that nothing should be taken away from Ross, who was brilliant. He noted that Ross took his opportunities and some big checkouts at the right time, but concluded that he was very disappointed.
Luke Littler’s Unheralded Exit
The tournament also featured a major upset earlier in the day when Jonny Clayton swept aside a profligate Luke Littler 10-4 in the quarter-finals. The loss ended the 19-year-old world number one’s bid for a clean sweep of all major PDC titles in 2026, handing Littler his first Premier event defeat in 330 days. The Warrington-based player had followed his World Championship triumph at Alexandra Palace in January by winning titles at the World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and World Matchplay, but failed to produce his best darts against Clayton after threatening to boycott events in the Netherlands following boos from the crowd during his last-16 win over Nathan Aspinall.
Prize Fund and Financial Stakes
As champion, Smith took home the £100,000 winner’s prize, while runner-up Price collected a runner-up prize. Semi-finalists claimed £30,000 each, quarter-finalists took home £17,500, last-16 losers earned £10,000, and last-32 losers received £5,000, bringing the total prize fund to £450,000.