Thursday 17 May 2018 22:27, UK
Michael Smith will return to major finals, despite losing the Premier League Darts trophy to Michael van Gerwen at the last hurdle, agreed our Sky Sports pundits.
'Bully Boy' Smith beat Gary Anderson in Thursday's semi-final but then lost 11-4 to Van Gerwen in his first major final.
"Credit to Smith - he was brilliant, but came up short against someone who everyone would have come up short against," Wayne Mardle said.
"He didn't scrape into the fourth spot. He wasn't tentative. He got in there, and stayed there.
"Finishing second is a bonus in itself. He's lost in a final but there are no negatives.
"He played great, hung in there, took out a 125 to keep the match going. There was nothing to his detriment.
"Smith is on the up. Hopefully, this is not as good as it gets."
Smith is on the up. Hopefully, this is not as good as it gets.
John Part added: "He's still learning. He looked good against Anderson. He even managed, somehow, to look good in the final.
"As impressive as MVG was, Smith had his shots, here and there. He had a lot of 180s.
"He was quality and is building towards a future."
Darts is back on your Sky Sports screens at the end of this month with the World Cup of Darts, live from Frankfurt - four days of live coverage get underway from 6pm on Sky Sports Action on Thursday May 31
Keep up to date with the latest darts news, previews, reports, reaction and expert analysis. Get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts- don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
