Las Vegas Desert Classic 6 - 2007
ADRIAN LEWIS 6-3 STEVE SMITH
ADRIAN LEWIS progressed past the first round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic for the first time with a 6-3 win over Steve Smith. Lewis has been a round one casualty for the past three years, and suffered a 6-0 whitewash to Phil Taylor 12 months ago.
However, he erased that memory with a high-scoring display to see off qualifier Smith.
Lewis landed six maximums in the match and restricted Smith's chances throughout to move into the last 16.
Lewis opened with a 13-darter, and backed that up by taking leg two in 14 darts before Smith hit back to win the next two and level matters.
However, Lewis pulled clear by taking the next three to move 5-2 up, including a neat 13-darter in leg seven.
Smith took out a tricky double seven to stay in the game in leg eight, but another 180 to open the next gave him the breathing space to seal victory on double top.
UK Open Finals - Reebok Stadium, Bolton 2007
SMUDGER competed in th UK Open filmed by Sky Sports television this weekend, where he reached the last 32. He defeated Alan Reynolds 11-8 before he narrowly lost 11-7 to Kevin "The Artist" Painter. This performance now sees SMUDGER reach number 49 in the world rankings!!
Below
sees Steve celebrating in Bolton
Photo below taken form planetdarts.tv
US Open 2007
SMUDGER reached the last 32 at the US Open this weekend before he narrowly lost to semi-finalist Andy Hamilton 3-2 (in sets). He defeated Dennis McDonald 3-0 in the first round and then defeated Robert Given 3-0 and then defeated Isen Veljic 3-1. This gives Steve a further £1,500 on his order of merit seeing him rise to number 51 in the world.
PDPA Players Championship Germany 2007
SMUDGER reached the last 64 at the PDPA Players Championship in Germany this weekend before narrowly losing to Kevin "The Artist" Painter 3-2 (in sets). He defeated Jurgen Lechtken 3-0 in the first round and then defeated dutch youngster Toon Greebe 3-2 on stage for German television.
Below are some photos of Steve on Stage
SMUDGER reached the quarter finals in Bristol this weekend, at the BLUE SQ. Bet South West UK regional final. He defeated Martin Thomas in the last 128, Tony Martin in the last 64, Andy Smith in the last 32 & Mick McGowan in the last 16 to qualify for the second day of the tournament.
STEVEN SMITH 3-5 JAMES WADE - Quarter FinalJames Wade came from behind to win 5-3 against Steve Smith in the third quarter-final of the Blue Square UK Open South-West Regional Final. The world number 11 from Aldershot trailed 2-0 after Smith made the more confident start to the contest.
Wade got off the mark following a scrappy third leg, with Smith missing seven darts at a double before Wade took out double one with his 11th dart to take the leg. Wade then levelled matters on double ten, but Smith edged back in front, a superb 165 leaving 16 for the Essex star, which he took out in two darts.
However that was as good as it got, though, for Smith, who could only watch on as Wade took the next three legs without reply to take the win.
Overall, another great weekend for SMUDGER, who continues to make his mark in the World of darts!LADBROKES.com WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS 2006
STEVE SMITH
4 Jimmy Mann (8)
5 Yves Cottenge
3 Matt Sheehan
5 Darren Johnson3 Yves Cottenge
5 Darren Johnson1 Darren Johnson
5 Steve Smith1 Mark Holden
5 Andrew Coulter0 Chris Sargaent
5Andrew Coulter1 Keith Rooney
5 Darrell Thorpe3 Andrew Coulter
5 Steve Smith5 Steve Smith
4 Ray Farrell1 Darrell thorpe
5 Steve Smith
LAS VEGAS DESERT CLASSIC V
STEVEN SMITH 6-2 DENIS OVENS (Last 32)
ESSEX'S Steven Smith sent another leading player tumbling from the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic with a 6-2 win over Denis Ovens.
Ovens became the sixth player from the world's top ten to exit the tournament in the first round on a day of high drama at the Mandalay Bay.
Smith's only previous appearance in a major event came when he qualified for the 2004 World Championship, but he will now face legendary Raymond van Barneveld in round two.
The first three legs all went against the throw, giving Smith a 2-1 cushion.
He then won the next three without reply to put himself 5-1 up and in sight of the biggest win of his career.
Ovens responded with a second 180 of the match on his way to winning the seventh leg, but Smith hit double ten to book his place in the last 16.
(3-0, 3-1, 3-1)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD powered into the last eight of the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic in straight sets against Steven Smith.
The Dutchman sent out a warning shot to the other remaining players with a classy showing, averaging 100 as he bids for a second major title inside a month.
He hit two maximums in the first set, which he won 3-0 by landing double top on three occasions.
Smith won the first leg of the next set to get off the mark with a 74 finish, but van Barneveld took out 64, 100 and 130 to move two sets up.
Smith posted a maximum on his way to winning the opening leg of the third set, but again van Barneveld's heavy scoring put him in pole position.
He again won three straight legs to end the dreams of the Essex player, who was making just his second appearance in a major tournament after qualifying for the 2004 World Championship.
"I'm happy to be through and I feel I played pretty well," said van Barneveld.
"You're always happy to average 100, and I'm still in the tournament so I'm looking forward to Friday."