Ross Smith (Photo by Tom Saules/PDC Europe)
Ross Smith has catapulted himself to a career-high of world number six following his European Championship success in Dortmund.
Smith secured his second European Championship title on Sunday following a series of classy displays at the Westfalenhalle, culminating in a hard-fought 11-8 victory against Martin Schindler.
The 37-year-old – who also lifted the crown in 2022 – becomes just the fifth player to win multiple European Championship titles, while also climbing eight places on the PDC Rankings Ladder.
Smith – last month’s World Series of Darts Finals champion – also accounted for Karel Sedlacek, Damon Heta, Luke Woodhouse and Gerwyn Price en route to pocketing the £150,000 top prize.
Gian van Veen has reclaimed the world number two spot at the expense of Luke Humphries, despite failing to retain his title on German soil.
The Dutch number one was beaten by Woodhouse in round two, while Humphries was forced to withdraw from the event on Thursday morning due to illness.
Stephen Bunting has climbed four places to ninth following his run to the quarter-finals, which saw him follow up a deciding-leg victory over Danny Noppert with a 10-3 drubbing of Kim Huybrechts.
Noppert has subsequently slipped four places to world number 11, with the former UK Open champion unable to defend the £40,000 he accrued for reaching the semi-finals two years ago.
Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen has relinquished his place in the world’s top ten for the first time since 2012, following a disappointing opening round exit in Dortmund.
The four-time European Champion was beaten by his fellow countryman Kevin Doets at the Westfalenhalle, and now finds himself languishing in 13th place on the PDC Rankings Ladder.
Scottish icon Gary Anderson has fallen five places to world number 14 after failing to qualify for this year’s showpiece, with Nathan Aspinall climbing back into the world’s top ten as a result.
It was also a memorable weekend for German number one Schindler, who became the first player from his homeland to feature in a televised ranking final.
The 30-year-old defeated Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Jonny Clayton and Krzysztof Ratajski to cap off a historic campaign, which also saw him regain a place in the world’s top 20.
Huybrechts enjoyed the biggest rise on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder last weekend, jumping nine places to world number 46.
The Belgian received a late call-up following Humphries’ withdrawal, and he duly capitalised with a sensational 6-1 win over Ryan Searle, averaging 103 and securing £20,000 in prize money.
However, Ritchie Edhouse has plummeted 22 places after missing out on qualification, which saw him unable to defend the £120,000 he clinched for lifting the European Championship in 2024.
Edhouse began the year as world number 27, but now finds himself in 55th position, and potentially embroiled in a battle to preserve his Tour Card status in January.
The PDC Werner Rankings Ladder comprises prize money won over a two-year period by players in PDC ranking events.
