Ross Smith has opened up about the intense self-doubt that plagued him during a tough spell last year, admitting he even began looking up HGV driving jobs. Speaking after defeating Andrew Gilding in the fourth round of the UK Open in Minehead, the Englishman described how a simple daily routine of sea swims and sauna sessions has helped him rediscover balance and enjoyment in darts. "I'm actually really happy with how my game is. It probably didn't show too much on the mini stage there. I probably looked miserable or something. But at the end of the day, I'm happy with the win, so it's all good," Smith told dartsnews.com.
Smith, who won a Players Championship last week, acknowledged that pressure can spiral quickly in his mind. "I'm a bit like that if I'm honest with you. I start looking up HGV jobs. I genuinely do. I'm absolutely mental with certain things." He reflected on a shaky start to 2026, saying, "At the start of this year, the first couple of Players Championships and stuff like that, I thought I was rubbish to be fair. I was a bit nervy trying to get off to a good start and probably put too much pressure on myself." However, a recent shift in mindset has been pivotal. "This week I've been swimming in the sea every day. I've been going into the sauna and then straight into the sea. I'm just enjoying the basic things in life now. I've probably turned into a bit of a hippie. Life's short. Enjoy it. Be grateful. I'm grateful to be here and grateful for the opportunity of darts. I'm just happy in life."
Despite his struggles, Smith remains confident in his abilities, citing his 2022 European Championship win as proof he can deliver on the big stage. "I love coming to the darts now. I love it. I love playing against the best players in the world and sometimes I pinch myself. But I also know that on my day I can be one of the best players in the world as well." He embraces the underdog role, adding, "Yeah, I love being the underdog. Who doesn't? For me there's no pressure when I'm playing Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen or someone like that." Smith also praised the atmosphere during his match with Gilding on an outer board, noting, "I enjoyed it to be fair. I don't think it was all for Andrew or all for me, it was probably about 50/50. They were really respectful as well. They didn't shout when people were throwing, so it was really good." Looking ahead in the UK Open, he is taking a simple approach: "You just take each game as it comes. You can only play the person in front of you and beat the person in front of you. There's no point thinking about someone three rounds ahead because they might get knocked out."
