Ross Smith lifted his first European Tour crown on Sunday, beating Ryan Searle 8‑3 in the International Darts Open final in Riesa. The victory marked Smith’s ninth PDC ranking title and pushed him deeper into the world’s top‑16 after a weekend of solid performances throughout. The win also gave him a €10,000 prize and boosted his confidence ahead of the season’s closing events.

He opened the event with a 6‑3 win over Joe Cullen, posting an average above 102 and finishing efficiently. A 6‑4 triumph against Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko saw Smith break throw at a crucial moment, while a nail‑biting 6‑5 quarter‑final over Michael van Gerwen came after trailing the Dutchman in the averages. The semi‑final was a 7‑0 rout of Cameron Menzies.

The European Tour title gave Smith the trophy on his fifth final attempt, ending a run of four runner‑up finishes. “I’m so happy to finally win one,” he said, noting the mental weight of previous losses. The win cements his status as a rising threat on the tour and adds valuable ranking points heading into the Premier League.