Gerwyn Price's wait for another major title goes on after Ross Smith beat him 11-5 in the final of the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. Price had reached the final averaging over 103 in both his quarter-final and semi-final victories, but Smith produced a 103.89 average of his own when the trophy was on the line, firing in 11 maximums and back-to-back ton-plus checkouts as he pulled clear after the match had reached 5-5.
For Price, it meant another opportunity gone to end a major drought stretching back to his victory at this very tournament in 2022. His assessment afterwards was blunt. "I was absolute rubbish in that final, but don't take anything away from Ross, he was brilliant," Price said. "I'm very disappointed." The defeat denied Price a third World Series of Darts Finals crown and what would have been his first major title in four years.
Despite the disappointment, the Welshman was adamant that adding another major to his record is no longer something he feels he needs to define the rest of his career. "I don't care. I'm playing some good darts, I'm earning some good money," he said. "If I never win a major again I really don't care as long as I'm doing well." Price then pointed towards life away from the oche as he reflected on where another major title now sits among his priorities. "Obviously I'm gutted now I've lost," he continued. "If I never win another major I've got a good family, I've invested all my money, I don't mind. I'm absolutely gutted today but I'm doing well."
There had been little between Price and Smith through the opening ten legs of the final. Price recovered from losing the opener to move 2-1 ahead before Smith immediately broke back, and the pair continued trading blows until an 11-dart leg featuring two maximums took Price into the second interval level at 5-5. Smith then changed the match in two visits to the outer ring. A 123 checkout on the bull put him 6-5 ahead before he followed it with a 127 finish on double eight after Price had missed the bull for 164.
Price's finishing then began to unravel. Smith moved 8-5 clear before the Welshman missed four darts at tops across two visits in leg 14, allowing Smith to break again on double eight. More chances went begging in the next leg before Smith moved one away, and Price then missed tops from 79 to stay alive. Smith cleaned up 48 on double 16 to complete six unanswered legs from 5-5 and seal the second major title of his career.
Price will not have long to dwell on the defeat. "For half an hour I'll be gutted," he said. "Tomorrow I'll be on the train on the way home. Tuesday I'm going to Tenerife so I really don't mind." It brought an abrupt end to an otherwise impressive weekend in Amsterdam for Price, who had beaten Brody Klinge, Jim Long, James Wade and Jonny Clayton on his way to the final. His 104.07 semi-final average against Clayton had been his best performance of the event, but Smith ensured that the major title Price has been waiting for since 2022 will have to come somewhere else.
