Ross Smith has launched a scathing attack on Mensur Suljovic, accusing the Austrian of gamesmanship during their dramatic last-leg showdown at the Swiss Darts Trophy on Sunday. The flashpoint came in the deciding leg of their last-16 encounter at the St. Jakobshalle, where Suljovic appeared to gesture towards the crowd behind Smith as the Englishman threw for the match.
Smith subsequently missed two match darts at double 18, allowing Suljovic to complete a remarkable comeback from 5-3 down to claim a 6-5 victory. The reigning World Series of Darts Finals champion exchanged a brief handshake with his opponent but cut a visibly frustrated figure as he quickly left the stage.
Smith later took to X to share his reaction, making it clear that he did not blame the defeat entirely on the incident, while taking aim at Suljovic over his apparent actions. "I don't blame Mensur for me losing that game. I missed two match darts. Simple as that," Smith wrote. "Obviously it's impossible for me to know what he's doing behind my back when I'm throwing apart from the crowd's response. If he wants to be an absolute helmet that's on him – karma will come around."
The controversial victory continues Suljovic's impressive run in Basel, having already eliminated former world number one Michael van Gerwen in Saturday's second round. The Austrian advanced to face Dirk van Duijvenbode in Sunday evening's quarter-finals, keeping his hopes of claiming the Swiss Darts Trophy title alive.
However, the incident has once again brought attention to Suljovic's on-stage conduct, with the 54-year-old having previously been involved in a heated exchange over similar accusations. Joe Cullen accused Suljovic of "cheating" during their World Championship meeting at Alexandra Palace last December, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the Austrian's behaviour during matches.
Smith, meanwhile, was left to reflect on a costly missed opportunity after coming within two darts of progressing to the quarter-finals before Suljovic completed his fightback. While Smith acknowledged that his missed doubles were ultimately decisive, his post-match comments made clear his displeasure at what he perceived to have happened behind him during the crucial moments of the contest.
