UK OPEN DARTS: Smith runs into treble trouble
DENNIS Smith’s failure to regularly hit the treble 20 proved his downfall as he was knocked out of the UK Open in Bolton.
The Swindon thrower lost 9-5 to Dave Chisnall in round four at De Vere Whites on Saturday afternoon, despite having hauled himself back into the match after a bad start.
Chisnall raced out of the traps to lead 5-1, and although Smith managed to reduce the deficit to 6-5, his lack of scoring eventually cost him.
“My darts were going straight, but there were too many 60s and not enough 140s really and I struggled to get going,” he said.
“That cost me because he played very well, and when you are playing a guy who is hitting 140s you need to be doing it too just to stay with him.
“When I went behind early on I thought I might be getting a hiding, but I pulled it back to 6-4 at the break and then broke his throw to make it 6-5, and if I had made it 6-6 I think I might have been able to win it.
“But at that point I started hitting 60, 60, 60 again, when I needed a ton or a 140.
“They say a wire makes a lot of difference, and it certainly did in my match.”
Chisnall is one of the rising stars in the PDC, and Smith believes he has a big future ahead of him.
“There was no disgrace in losing to someone like Dave because he is a fantastic darts player,” he said.
“He made the final of the BDO World Championships and also won two Players Championship events in the same weekend, so he is a very good player with a big future ahead of him.
“I just wanted to give him a game and I am proud I managed to do that, and I was pleased with the way I played.”
Smith put in a superb performance during qualifying to earn the right to begin his campaign on Friday night, but he was not called into action as opponent Mark Jones was disqualified for not registering in time.
Despite only playing one game in Bolton, Smith was pleased with the way the UK Open went for him.
“It was only one game in the end but I have to feel fantastic about the whole thing,” he said.
“Last year I qualified into the event as number 33, and this year I qualified as 19, and I put together a really good campaign to get that far.
“I know I got a bye from my first match, and I feel sorry for Mark Jones, but that is darts.
“I played well against Dave in round four and maybe could have won on another day, so I have to be pleased with how everything went.”