HE'S BEEN CROWNED
Nice trophy plus £100,000 as well for good measure! A decent night’s work for our Scott! Well, that’s it for a great night. Scott’s sure to get a great welcome home! Well done. And good evening all.
SCOTT WAITES IS WORLD CHAMPION
Scott simply blew Jeff Smith away with an incredible performance tonight. He delivered when it mattered and bulldozed his way to a second world title. The trophy is coming to Huddersfield!
Set 8 - leg 5
Right, one leg from glory but Smith has the darts. That last finish was incredible. And a 180 from Scott edges him closer to the title. Is this the leg? Scott hits 145 to leave 41 for the title, Smith back on 182. DOuble 16 and SCOTT WAITES IS THE WORLD CHAMPION!! 7 SETS TO 1
Set 8 - leg 3
Right, Scott has the darts to force a decider in this set and edges ahead early on with a 140. But Smith responds with 131. 40 from Scott is poor, he’s on 256 but a 41 from Smith eases the pressure, he’s on 229. Scott on a finish with 156 but Smith hits 180 to leave 49. YES!!! Scott nails the 156 finish, awesome end to the peg. 2-2
Set 8 - leg 3
Poor darts from both me in the last leg and to be fair, both knew it as did the crowd who don’t look too impressed with this final. All smiles in Huddersfield though where it’s going down as a classic! Scott just two legs from glory now. Although with a 45 he’s behind in this leg. Smith on 106 Scott on 245. Smith leaves 18. Scott on 146. Smith with double 9 wins. 2-1 Smith
Set 8 - leg 2
Scott with the darts now, had the chance to drive one nail in Smith’s coffin in that last leg but poor finishing cost him. Ahead in this leg though and leaves himself 149 with Smith on 158.Scott leaves 12. Smith leaves 32. Scott misses three at double 6. Smith misses three at the double...... poor from both men here. Scott finally hits double 6 and has a laugh about it. 1-1
Set 8 - leg 1
Scott 6-1 up and one set form victory. Smith will be kicking himself after letting a 2-0 lead go in the last set but Scott now looks unstoppable. Smith using all the oche in search of a good arrer and edges ahead in the leg. 180 help and leaves him needing 30, Scott on 186. Smith misses three shots at a double. Scott leaves 65 with a 121. Smith misses another three at a double, oh dear. Scott misses three...... Smith hits double 6. 1-0 Smith
Set 7 - leg 5
Scott has the darts to go 6-1 up. Massive leg of darts. 140 start from Scott with Smith just 60. Another 140 from Scott piles on the pressure, but Smith hits a 180 - great response. 121 from Scott leaves him 100. Smith on 204. Just misses an 11-darter but leaves 40 with Smith leaving 64. Tops win the set and Scott is now just one set from victory!
Set 7 - leg 4
Now the pressure’s on Smith who must hold. Scott starts the better although neither are troubling the trebles too much. 60 and 59 sums it up in this leg followed by a Smith 58 and a Scotty 60. 140 from Smith livens it up. As does a 139 from Scott! Scott on 143, Smith 135. Misses but leaves 50. Smith leaves 56. Double 16 for Scott levels the set. 2-2
Set 7 - leg 3
Well, Scott in trouble here. He’s now lost five legs in a row with just two darts at a double. And he’s not finding the trebles at all. A poor 40 sets the tone, Scott’s off the boil here. Smith first to a finish on 140, Scott on 221. Smith leaves 80, Scott needs 161. Misses it to leave 64. Smith misses tops for the set. Scott misses double 16 and Smith misses three shots at a double. Scott takes advantage with double 4. 2-1 Smith
Set 6 - leg 2
Big leg for Scott this now against the darts and starts with a 125. But a 46 won’t help! Smith ahead with a 140. Another 140 leaves him 76, Scott on 230. Tops seals a two leg lead.
Set 6 - leg 1
OK, we’re back in business. Scott needs just two sets to win the title and has the darts. Come on Scotty! 100 to start off, same for Smith. 100 for Scott, 140 for Smith who looks calmer. Scott first to a finish on 161. Leaves himself 116, poor. Smith wants 32. Scott just misses a 116 finish. Smith hits double 8. 1-0 Smith against the darts.
Second break
Strange set that last one with Smith nailing the highest finish of the night to land it. ‘Wahere did that come from?’ asks Bobby George. Where indeed? Scott needs a hard look in the mirror here, he still has work to do. Two sets away from the world title but crossing that line can be a nervy business and Jeff Smith has given himself an enormous boost with that 161 finish.
Set 6 - leg 3
Well, Smith in the driving seat in this set, the first time he’s led 2-0 in a set all night. Scott ahead in this leg though against the darts. And a 138 helps to leave 68 with Smith behind on 161. Leaves double top. Great darts from Smith, nails a 161 finish to land the set. Impressive darts. Scott leads 5 sets to 1 and it’s another break
Set 6 - leg 2
Better in that leg from Smith and starts this one with a 180, just 79 from Scott. Scott has the darts but Smith hits another 140 to follow up his maximum, Scott just 60. Smith a long way clear here but a 65 doesn’t help. He needs 116 though and just misses. Scott on 202. 20 for Smith and misses to leave 5. Scott needs 158 though. Leaves 64. Smith gets double 2. Smith 2-0 ahead.
Set 6 - leg 1
Well, what can we you say, a superb display from Scott. The crowd is subdued, they ant a contest we just want the trophy back in Huddersfield! Still two sets needed though so let’s not count our chickens. Smith has the arrers in this leg and gains the edge early on. Bounce out doesn’t help Scott - sharpener needed! Scott needs 94. Makes a mess of it though to leave 32. Smith needs tops but settles for double 10. 1-0 Smith
Set 5 - leg 5
Well, a decider with Scott having the darts and hits 96 first off. 100 for Smith. 95 for Waites with attempts at trebles 20,19 and 18. 97 for Smith. Neck and neck. But a 140 from Scott puts the pressure on Smith who hits 60. 170 for Scott to go for, leaves 72. Smith way behind on 157. Scott leaves 36. Smith needs 100. Double 18 at third attempt! Five sets ahead now.
Set 5 - leg 4
Scott needs this leg for a five set to nil lead but Smith has the darts and edges ahead with a 140 with Scott a bit behind. Smith first to a finish with 141. Scott way behind on 261. Smith hits double 8 to win the leg. 2-2
Set 5 - leg 3
140 starts from Scott. Smith let him in in that last leg with some woeful finishing. Bounce-out though for Scott just 25 scored. Smith follows up with a 22....with all three in the board. Reminds me of myself in the pub. But Smith then hits a 180 which doesn’t remind me of myself in the pub. 159 from Scott leaves him with 32, no out shot for Smith. Straight in, double 16. 2-1 Scott.
Set 5 - leg 2
Scott let Smith in then, he had plenty of chances to seal the leg. Smith with the arrers in this leg and they match each other early on. Smith first to a finish on 110 but now Scott needs 142. Close! Just misses double 11. Smith misses three at a double and Scott hits double 11. 1-1
Set 5 - leg 1
Scott bounced right back in that final leg with a superb set of darts after a poor start. Four sets to nil up, we’ve only been playing for 45 minutes! Scotty with the arrers in this first leg of the fifth set. Scott is now 1/20 with the bookies and Smith has just scored a 22. Smith looks in trouble, rushing his darts and looking disconsolate. He’s there for the taking. Scott needs 117. And just misses it on the double 20. And Smith does the same with a 118 attempt. Scott misses three at tops.......Smith hits it, poor finishing from Scott. 1-0 Smith
4th set - leg 5
Smith has the darts in this fourth set decider and starts the leg the better. A few loose darts from Scotty lets Smith get ahead but then hits a 174 to get right back in. And a 180 piles on the pressure! In it goes, double 8 - 4-0 to Scott!!
4th set - leg 4
Scott had his chances in that leg but made a real mess of his final three attempts at a double. But starts strongly with the darts in this leg with an early 140. And then another!! Smith way behind. Scott needs 161 after 9 darts and gets 1137 to leave double 12. Smith on 226. In it goes, double 12! 2-2
4th set - leg 3
Good fightback from Scott and hopefully he’s now warming up after the break. He’s red hot now! A 180 to move ahead against the arrers. But Smith is first to a finish but Scott needs 121. Misses it to leave 24. Smith misses double top, Scott is in but misses all three attempts. Smith wins with double 5. 2-1 Smith
4th set - leg 2
Poor leg from Scott, perhaps he could have done without the break. Needs this leg with the darts but Smith has started strongly. Scott first to a finish though on 115.Close, just misses a 115 finish. Has another chance though and wins it with a double 9 at the third attempt. 1-1
4th set - leg 1
And they’re back. One way traffic so far but Smith has the arrers in the first leg of the fourth set. Smith throwing better and has the edge in this leg. Smith wins it with a double 10. 1-0
Drinks break
What a start from Scotty 2 Hotty, three sets to nil and Smith looks shellshocked.
I don’t want to jinx proceedings but SMith looks nervy and Scott looks on top of his game, relaxed and benefiting from having ‘been there and done it’. If Scott wins his second title then he’s up there with the greats of darts. Long way to go though, it’s first to seven sets and as we’ve seen over the years, comebacks are possible in darts.
Third set - leg 4
Scott one leg away from a three set lead. Poor darts from both men so far in this leg. Could be a long one at this rate! Scott first to a finish though against the darts. And Scott narrowly misses a 126 bull finish. YES! Scott seals it with a 25 checkout. THREE SETS TO NIL TO OUR MAN
Third set - leg 3
Scott with the arrers, but Smith first to a finish. Scott though nails it with a 65 finish. 2-1 to Scott
Third set - leg 2
Scott a leg up in set three with a break after this set. Nice 137 start with Smith hitting 45. A real swagger from Scott at present. But Smith fights back with some wayward darts from Scott. 44 Scott?? SMith seals it with a double 18. 1-1
