Smith World Championship odds slashed after World Series of Darts Finals triumph

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Mon, 21 Sep 2026

Ross Smith was superb in winning the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals (Credit: PDC Europe)

Ross Smith has been cut to a best price of 50/1 to win the 2027 PDC World Championship after continuing his sensational season with victory at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.

Smudger landed the second major televised title of his career on Sunday night, producing a devastating display to beat Gerwyn Price 11-5 in the final.

Smith averaged 103.89 and crashed in 11 maximums against the Welshman, reeling off six consecutive legs from 5-5 to secure his first major title since winning the European Championship in 2022.

And after being available at as big as 125/1 for the World Championship before the weekend, Smith's exploits in the Netherlands have prompted a major rethink from bookmakers and punters alike.

Ross Smith continues stunning 2026 season

Smith's success in Amsterdam certainly wasn't achieved via an easy route.

The Kent thrower defeated Kevin Doets and Daryl Gurney to reach Finals Day before seeing off Josh Rock 10-7 in the quarter-finals.

A superb 11-8 victory over home favourite Gian van Veen followed in the semi-finals, setting up a showdown with Price for the £100,000 top prize.

Smith then saved arguably his best performance for when it mattered most.

Despite starting the better player, Smith found himself locked at 5-5 before suddenly finding another gear, with back-to-back 123 and 127 checkouts helping him rattle off six unanswered legs and storm to an 11-5 success.

His scoring power was particularly impressive, with those 11 180s and a 103.89 average blasting Price off the board and sealing another landmark moment in what is becoming the season of Smith's career.

The result is hardly a flash in the pan, either.

Smith has already won his first two European Tour titles this summer, alongside two Players Championship events on the floor, and his latest success confirms his place among the most in-form players on the PDC circuit.

That consistency is now being reflected in the World Championship market.

Having been available at 125/1 before the World Series Finals, a flurry of support has seen Smith slashed to a best price of just 50/1 to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace this winter with Ladbrokes and Coral.

Given the level of darts he is currently producing, those who took the triple-figure prices about Smudger will surely be feeling pretty pleased with their position.

Luke Littler suffers rare off-colour weekend

While Smith enjoyed a weekend to remember in Amsterdam, Luke Littler endured the unfamiliar experience of leaving a major without the trophy.

The Nuke arrived in the Netherlands with the extraordinary possibility of becoming the first player to complete a clean sweep of the PDC's major televised titles in a single season.

However, there were signs from the outset that Littler wasn't quite operating at his brilliant best.

He recovered from 3-1 down to beat Danny Noppert 6-4 in his opener before surviving an even bigger scare against Nathan Aspinall, eventually edging a deciding-leg thriller 10-9 after trailing 9-8.

There would be no escape in the quarter-finals.

Jonny Clayton produced an excellent performance to thrash the world number one 10-4, bringing Littler's remarkable pursuit of a clean sweep to an end. Littler had won each of the season's first six premier PDC events, including the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open and World Matchplay.

One poor weekend does little to alter Littler's position at the summit of world darts, but it does at least provide some encouragement to those searching for opportunities to oppose the seemingly unstoppable teenager.

Is Luke Littler worth taking on at the World Grand Prix?

Punters won't have to wait long for the next opportunity.

The World Grand Prix begins on September 28, with Littler bidding to successfully defend his title in the famous double-in, double-out tournament.

The world number one is just 5/6 to retain his crown, but the unique format of the Grand Prix has traditionally made it one of the more unpredictable events on the PDC calendar.

Combine that with Littler's unusually subdued showing in Amsterdam and those odds may prove short enough to tempt punters into looking elsewhere.

One man now firmly on the radar is Smith.

Smudger was initially available at 50/1 for the World Grand Prix, but his Amsterdam heroics have seen that price trimmed to 33/1.

The double-start format provides a completely different examination and Littler remains the man everyone has to beat.

But after two European Tour titles, two floor victories and now a second major crown in the space of one outstanding season, Smith's claims are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Matt Hill

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Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.

Having worked in the industry for the best part of a decade, including extended stints with Betfred and LiveScore, Matt joined the project in May 2024 with the sole aim of making Odds Now a key player in the betting content space.

He has also forged a reputation as a respected darts tipster, landing numerous three-figure outright winners over the years, while his love for lower league football also helps him pick out the odd obscure winner in that space.

When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.

Matt Hill is Odds Now's Head of Content and leads our digital operation, while also offering his insight as a tipster across darts and football.

When not at the editorial desk, Matt enjoys travelling the country supporting his beloved Carlisle United FC, chucking a few arrows and spending time with his young family.