Players Championship 29: Emotional Ross Smith beats nine-dart star Josh Rock to win second ProTour title of season

Ross Smith clinched his second ProTour title of 2025 at Players Championship 29, overcoming Josh Rock - who hit a nine-darter on route to Wednesday's thrilling final in Leicester.

After missing the Swiss Darts Trophy for family reasons, Smith returned with purpose, delivering four ton-plus averages and a standout 106 to whitewash Michael van Gerwen in the last 16.

His campaign began with a 104 average against Berry van Peer, followed by dominant wins over Jamai van den Herik and Lukas Wenig.

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In the final, Smith showed resilience, rallying from 6-4 and 7-5 down to defeat Northern Ireland's Rock with a clutch 118 checkout in the deciding leg.

The emotional win followed his earlier triumph at Players Championship 16 in May.

Rock, meanwhile, hit the day's only nine-darter in Round Three against Wesley Plaisier before overcoming Dirk van Duijvenbode, Danny Noppert, and Gary Anderson.

2025 Players Championship 29 - results

Last 16
Ryan Meikle 6-5 Stephen Bunting
Ross Smith 6-0 Michael van Gerwen
Wessel Nijman 6-5 Martin Schindler
Jonny Clayton 6-3 Mike De Decker
Gary Anderson 6-5 Darryl Pilgrim
Luke Humphries 6-5 Cameron Menzies
Josh Rock 6-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Danny Noppert 6-2 Niels Zonneveld

Quarter-finals
Ross Smith 6-4 Ryan Meikle
Wessel Nijman 6-0 Jonny Clayton
Gary Anderson 6-5 Luke Humphries
Josh Rock 6-2 Danny Noppert

Semi-finals
Ross Smith 7-3 Wessel Nijman
Josh Rock 7-4 Gary Anderson

Final
Ross Smith 8-7 Josh Rock