Raymond Smith has made it back to back appearances at the PDC World Championships after securing his position as the number one player in Australia at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club on Sunday.
It will be Smith’s third appearance at the Ally Pally after he defeated Joe Comito three sets to nil in the final of the DPA Satellite tour.
“I am very stoked to have got through this field today and excited to go back to the PDC World Championships.”
“Joe played really well in the final and the final score was not truly reflective of the excellence he showed at the oche but the final was not the only great game today there were many brilliant games today across the boards and that is where Australian darts is at now.”
“Last year I was not quite prepared for the world stage, it was only after Ky qualified that I realised I had to prepare. This time I am prepared for it, in fact I have prepared for it all year. My game has come a long way even since last year.”
“Full credit to the late Bert Ridgeway who taught me so much and also to Tony Glass and Tony David who are now helping me get my game to the next level. “
“I am hard to beat in Australia and the players I am playing here know that and are really stepping up to play me.”
“That can only be good for Australian darts. The quality continues to increase across the board in Australian darts.”
Smith lost to Alan Tabern in his debut at the Palace in 2018. Last year he progressed past Jamie Hughes (3-1), Devon Petersen 3-0 and Florian Hempel 4-1 before losing 4-3 to Mervyn King in the fourth round
After his heroics at the PDC World Championships in January Raymond Smith booked his second successive, and third overall, place on the Ally Pally stage thanks to his win in the final of the Winmau Pirate Life DPA Satellite Series of 2022.
The tournament saw some of Australia’s best players line up at the Warilla Park Bowls and Recreation Club to play off for the number one position in Australia and a ticket to London.
After a day of quality matches the quarter finals saw all but three of the seeds progress with Jamie Browne (6-4 to Joe Comito), Blake Hatchett (6-4 to Tim Pusey), Stuart Coburn (6-4 to Dave Marland), Matt Mullen (6-3 to Bailey Marsh), Brenton Lloyd (6-1 to Mal Cuming), Brandon Weening (6-4 to Howard Jones), Dave Charnock (6-5 to Ray Smith), and Raymond O’Donnell (Peter Willmott to 6-1) all being eliminated at this stage.
In the first quarter final Howard Jones held throw in his opening leg before Mal Cuming opened with 140 on his throw. Jones threw the same on his second visit to the oche in the leg. Cuming missed a 70 check out and left 20 leaving Jones with a shot at tops which he converted to lead 2-0. After a slow start in the next leg Cuming threw two tons in succession. Jones started slowly as well but threw a 133 and checked out at his next visit. Jones then opened up with a maximum against the throw in leg four. He backed it up with a 140 to leave 181 and secured the leg two visits later despite three successive ton plus visits from Cuming at the end of the leg. Jones then opened up with two successive 100s on throw in the fifth leg. He scored the same on his fourth visit to leave 141. Cuming threw 140 to leave 157 only to stand back and watch Smith threw 101 to leave tops. Cuming piled the pressure on the Hones throw after a 141 visit left Cuming needing 16 but Jones was up to the task and led 5-0. Against throw in the next leg Jones opened up with a 100. Both players struggled mid leg to secure a treble but eventually a 95 from Jones left him on 201 and visits of 69 and 32 saw Jones progress through to a semi-final.
Quarter final two saw Ray Smith win the throw and he secured two 100 visits, with 129 in between from Peter Willmott, and then a 140 on his third visit. A 120 left Smith needing 38 and he secured it on his next visit with last dart in hand. Smith then opened against the throw with a 100 visit and backed it up with a 140 in the second leg. 97 and 100 later and Smith had 64 to check out which he did on his next visit. Smith then opened up with a 121 on throw in the third leg but Wilmott retaliated with 140. Smith held throw though to lead 3-0. In the fourth leg both players opened up with 100. Smith then threw 131 and two visits later he landed his dart in the double 16 bed to win the leg. At 4-0 down Wilmott checked out a 126 to get his first leg on the board. On throw Smith then threw 140 to open and backed it up with a 100. 134 from Wilmott on his second visit helped him get back into the leg but a 140 on his third visit left Smith needing 64 to take the leg, which he did. He then opened with visits of 180, 97 and 100 in the next leg to leave 124. Wilmott had secured 100, 90 and 96 in response but a 40 left him outside the chance of a check out. Smith left 32 for the leg on his next visit which he took with his next dart at the oche to lead 5-1. Smith then opened on throw with 100 and 140 to take a strong lead in the leg but a maximum from Wilmott put him back into consideration. Smith threw 91 to leave 170 before Wilmott hit a second successive maximum to leave 98. With Smith leaving 72 Willmott had a shot at the leg but missed 38 for the break of throw. Smith took out 72 to win 6-1, Smith averaging 100 for the match with Willmott averaging 91.
Quarter final three saw Dave Marland hold throw against Bailey Marsh in the opening leg. He then broke the Marsh throw despite the youngster securing a maximum on his second visit. Marsh was able to pounce in the third leg though as he made the most of a 140 start to scratch out a break. He could not bring the match back on even terms, though, as in leg four Marland matched the 140 start of Marsh before throwing 121, two 85s and a 70 check out to lead 3-1. He then held throw in the fifth leg before breaking the Marsh throw with a 38 check out that had been put under huge pressure after Marsh through 131 and left 20. However it was not to be and Marland moved a leg away from the win. Marland secured two 100 visits on his way to 155 and a 139 left him needing 16 which he collected with last dart in hand on his next visit to the oche to secure a semi final spot.
In quarter final four Joe Comito opened proceedings with a 134 before Tim Pusey threw a ton upon his second time at the oche. Eventually Comito secured the hold of throw. Pusey then checked out 77 with his 15th dart to tie the match back up at 1-1. Comito then had visits of 97, 125, 137 and 110 to set himself up with a hold of throw before Pusey threw 140, 140 and 180 to set up a return to parity at two sets all. Despite opening visits of 140, 135 and 140 Comito then watched as an 84 check out gave Pusey the first break of the match and a 3-2 lead but that lead was not to be too long lasting as Comito broke back in 14 darts immediately. In the seventh leg Comito opened on throw with a 140 with Pusey throwing the same on his third visit, Comito checked out double 10 eventually to gain a 4-3 lead. Pusey opened with 125 on throw in the eighth leg before Comito secured a ton on his second visit. With Comito unable to punish two poor throws from Pusey, the Magnet threw 140 to leave 135. A 131 visit from Comito left him requiring 133 and a few visits later he checked out for the break after Pusey spurned leg darts. Comito was now a leg away from a semi final and he opened on throw in the ninth leg with a 120. Pusey pounced on a poor second visit from his opponent. A 140 restored order for Comito and he then threw 85 to leave 117. With Pusey on 210 Comito left tops after his next visit to the oche. 128 from Pusey put the pressure on the Comito throw as he left 82 to remain in the match but with his next dart Comito landed the dart in the double 20 bed to secure that semi-final appearance having won his quarter final 6-3.
In the opening semi final Howard Smith opened with a 135 on throw against Raymond Smith and then check out 85 on throw to take the first leg in the first set. He then opened with three 100 visits and a 97 to leave 104 against throw. Smith left 100 after a ton visit of his own and had a shot at it as Jones missed. Smith needed no other invitation and pegged the ton to move the match to one leg all. Jones opened the next leg with another ton and a second 100 on his third visit but his opponent threw 100s on his first and third visit as well. Smith then threw a 174 to leave him on 84. Smith secured that leg despite another 100 from Jones leaving him needing a ton to put some pressure on the 84 check out. Smith led 2-1 in the first set and on throw he opened with 100 which was exactly matched by Jones. A 119 from Smith was bettered by a 140 from Jones. Smith missed the bull for the leg before Jones did the same. Smith failed to put the match away on his next visit either but Jones failed to on his throw and Smith did not need another invitation to take out the leg and win the first set 3-1. Jones then opened the second set with a 140 against the throw. After Smith hit the same on his second visit to the oche Jones hit two more successive 140s to leave 81. Jones left 8 after his next visit but with Smith failing to put 112 away, Jones took the leg to lead 1-0 in the second set. The next leg saw Smith throw 131, 100 and 180 but a 121 and 133 from Jones mid leg set him up for a shot at the bull. He missed it and Smith pounce with a 32 check out to return things to level pegging in the second set. Smith then opened with three successive 100s on throw in the next leg. 120 and 100 visits from Jones later in the leg then left him needing 131 as Smith left 32 with a 109 visit. Jones moved to 74 but Smith did not give him a shot at it as he checked out the leg for a 2-1 lead on his next visit. Jones then opened with 100 on throw in the next leg only for Smith to respond with the same. Jones secured two 100s and a 140 in three of his opening four visits but Smith threw 100, 140 and 105 to leave 96. He left tops after his next visit but Jones converted 48 to stay in the set and the match. Both players opened with 140s in the deciding leg of the second set but a 91 kicker from Smith helped him take a lead in the leg. Smith secured a 137 on his fourth visit to the oche to leave 78 for the match. He missed out on the win at his next visit but returned to the oche as Jones could only get to 147. Smith failed to take the match on his next two visits but finally made it at the third attempt to win the set 3-2 and win the match by two sets to nil, thus fulfilling many of the darting community’s prediction that he would make the final of this competition.
In their semi-final Comito opened with 180 and a pair of tons against the throw but Marland threw 180 and 100 and with Comito missing the bull for the leg Marland had a go at a 101 check out. He had to settle for leaving tops and with Comito missing on his next visit Marland went 1-0 up with last dart in hand. On throw Comito then hit a 180 at his second visit with a 137 shortly thereafter leaving him requiring 66. Marland had visits of 140, 81, 100 and 140 to leave tops and had a shot at it but missed only for Comito to not hit the required target. Marland then hit tops with his 13th dart to move 2-0 up in the first set. He then opened with 100 on throw but Comito bettered it with a 121. Marland threw 91, 97 and 100 to leave 113 for the first set. He left 60 after his fifth visit to the oche and with Comito needing Shanghai Marland left tops. Comito could not convert the 120 and Marland took out the leg and the first set on the next visit, three legs to nil. In the second leg Marland hit 140 twice in a row and then a 90 left 72. Despite a late 180 from Comito leaving him on 56 Marland held his nerve to throw the double four to make the second set 1-1. Comito then opened with 180 as Marland responded with a 123. Comito was well ahead in the leg to leave 32 and secured it with his 16th dart to lead 2-1 in the second set. The next leg saw Marland throw two 140s and a 100 to leave 36 whilst Comito had thrown 137, 100, 131 and 93 to leave 40. Marland secured the double 18 to lock the set up at 2-2. Comito then opened with a 99 on throw before collecting 137, 93 and 130 across his next three visits to leave 52. With Marland well behind Comito stepped up and secured the 52 with his 14th dart to force the game into a deciding set. Comito threw a 174 in the opening game of the deciding set to leave 93 and with Marland well behind he checked out tops to lead 1-0 with a break of throw. In the second leg Comito threw a 140 on his third visit to move to 204 as Marland threw the same to leave 203. Comito then scored 100 as a 171 from Marland left him needing 32. Comito pegged the big 104 to take the leg and a 2-0 lead. Visits of 90 and 99 from Comito gave him a lead against the Marland throw in leg three of set three. A 137 left Marland needing 142 with 99 leaving Comito on a 167 check out. Neither player converted next time around and thus the pressure was on their next visits. Marland converted the 62 with last dart in hand to move within a leg of parity once more. Comito threw a 140 on his second visit to the oche in the next leg before throwing 137 to leave 142. 120 left Comito needing 22 with a 140 from Marland seemingly not enough as he left 192. Comito missed out on his next visit but return to the oche, albeit under a little pressure as Marland had thrown a 125 to leave 67. Comito missed out again and Marland pegged the 67 with last dart in hand to move the match into a deciding leg at two all in the third set. Marland, on throw, opened the leg with an 81 as Comito responded with 96. A ton from Marland left him on 320 as Comito moved from 405 to 270 with a 135 visit. Marland threw a 140 to leave 180 as Comito left 189 after a visit of 81. Marland then threw 95 to leave 85 as Comito threw 135 to leave 54. Marland left 56 and Comito threw for the match but missed his opportunity for tops and a position in the final. Marland then missed tops himself for the match and could not put away the following double 10 either and Comito returned to the oche one final time to secure tops for the match, the score 3-2 in the final leg and 2-1 in sets.
The final saw Ray Smith and Joe Comito go head to head for Australian number one and a place in the PDC World Championship. The opening leg of the match saw Smith start with a maximum against the throw and in 14 darts Smith was one leg ahead. In the second leg Comito threw 134 to open and secured his own 180 upon his third visit only to leave 8 chasing 127. Two visits later Comito took the leg to immediately get the break back. He then opened with 140 on throw which was matched by Smith. Later in the leg a 100 visit left Smith requiring the big fish but he left 112. Comito moved from 124 to 82 on his next visit and had a shot at it as Smith left 8 with a 104 attempt at the check out. Comito was unable to convert 82, leaving 54, and Smith checked out on his next visit to lead 2-1. The next leg saw both players move to tops with big visits (Comito 130 and Smith 140) but Smith had first shot at tops and got it to win the leg and the opening set. On throw in the opening lg of the next set Smith scored 100 which was matched by Comito on his second visit. Comito was the first to a check out in the leg as 134 left him requiring 108 and he pegged it to take the break. Smith opened with a 140 against the throw in the next leg and a 97 followed as a kicker. 140 left Comito on 247 but a 94 left Smith requiring 116. Comito put that throw under pressure with a 120 leaving 68 and Smith left 56. Comito then left eight and Smith punished the misstep by checking out 56 in two darts leaving the set on throw at one leg all. Smith then opened with 140 to move to 361 and followed it up with an 81. A 140 and 100 from Comito put him back in the leg but a 135 left Smith requiring 42. Despite Comito throwing 134 to leave Smith under pressure with Comito behind him needing 24 Smith checked out the leg in two darts to move two legs to one up in the second set. The next leg saw Comito throw 96s in three of his first four visits and then a 95 left him requiring tops. He got it on his next visit to tie the set up at two all. A 140 mid leg from Smith was almost matched by a 123 from Comito in the deciding leg of the set. Smith moved to 106 with another 140 before a 100 from Comito left him requiring 143. Smith checked out the 48 needed to win the second set 3-2 in legs. Comito had the throw in the first leg of the third set and scored 96, 140 and 135 to leave 130. With Smith on 210 Comito left 32 for the leg. Smith moved to 110 but Comito cleaned up the 32 with last dart in hand to take the lead. Smith then opened with 121 in the next leg. Visits of 134 from Comito and then 140 from Smith moved the leg on quickly before 140 left Smith requiring tops to even the third leg up. A 121 left Comito requiring 97 but Smith got the 40 required with his second dart on his next visit to the oche. A 134 on throw set Comito up nicely in the next leg and he backed it up with a 140. A 137 left Comito needing 90 and whilst he did not get it at his next two visits he was far enough ahead to get it at the third attempt to lead the set 2-1. Smith had to hold throw in the next leg to stay in the set and started with a ton. He backed it up with a 97 as Comito threw a pair of 90s. Another 100 left Smith requiring 204 but had a poor next visit had Comito pounce to leave 149. Smith was unable to take out the 164 check out but left 64 and came back as Comito left himself requiring 90. Smith hit the 64 with last dart in hand to tie the set at two legs all. Comito started with a maximum on throw in the deciding leg of the set as Smith responded with a ton. Comito threw an 83 kicker as Ray hit a second successive ton. Smith threw a 140 to leave 64 as Comito stood behind him on 165. 121 put Smith under pressure as Comito moved to 44. Smith left 20 but Comito left the same on his next visit. Smith did not need a second invitation and secured the win with second dart in hand, victorious 3-2 in the final set on legs and 3-0 in sets. Thus Raymond Smith secured number one status in the DPA for 2022 and a place on the PDC world championship stage once more
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