Raymond Smith wins ANZ Premier League in Brisbane to book Ally Pally and Grand Slam spots
Australia's Raymond Smith beat Tim Pusey 10-2 in Brisbane to win the ANZ Premier League and a place at the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship.
Australia's Raymond Smith won the Dabble Darts ANZ Premier League on Saturday, 31 October, thrashing Tim Pusey 10-2 in the final at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. The 46-year-old, nicknamed "The Guru", earns a place at the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, a spot at the Grand Slam of Darts and A$30,000 in prize money.
It was a home triumph for the Brisbane player, who lost last year's final 10-7 to Simon Whitlock.
Final: nine legs in a row
Pusey made the better start, breaking Smith's throw twice early in the final. Smith then took control, winning nine consecutive legs and hitting eight maximums on his way to a 10-2 win. He averaged 87.28 to Pusey's 74.32.
The result was a turnaround in their rivalry: Pusey had beaten Smith in their previous four meetings and had finished second in the league table after winning nights in Melbourne and Newcastle.
Semi-finals
Smith needed a comeback to reach the final. He trailed Jonny Tata 4-2 before winning five legs in a row and closing out an 8-5 win, averaging 87.03 to Tata's 85.24. Tata's highlight was a 108 checkout.
In the other semi-final, Pusey raced into a 6-2 lead over Whitlock, the 2025 champion. Whitlock won the next two legs, but Pusey held on for an 8-4 victory, averaging 83.78 to 78.34.
| Round | Result | Averages |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-final | Raymond Smith 8-5 Jonny Tata | 87.03 v 85.24 |
| Semi-final | Tim Pusey 8-4 Simon Whitlock | 83.78 v 78.34 |
| Final | Raymond Smith 10-2 Tim Pusey | 87.28 v 74.32 |
Fourth trip to Alexandra Palace
Smith, who had already won league nights in Canberra and Auckland this season, will be making his fourth World Championship appearance. His best run came at the 2021/22 edition, when he reached the last 16 before losing to Mervyn King. He called the win "beyond my wildest dreams".
He joins Brody Klinge, Mal Cuming and Ben Robb as the Oceania qualifiers for the 2027 World Championship. The ANZ Premier League, run across a series of league nights in Australia and New Zealand before a four-player finals night, has become one of the main routes to Alexandra Palace for players from the region.
What is next
The Grand Slam of Darts takes place in Wolverhampton from 14 to 22 November, with evening sessions in England falling in the early hours of the morning in Malaysia. The World Championship at Alexandra Palace runs from 11 December to 3 January.
Key takeaways
- Raymond Smith beat Tim Pusey 10-2 in the ANZ Premier League final in Brisbane on 31 October.
- Smith won nine legs in a row in the final and hit eight 180s.
- He beat Jonny Tata 8-5 in the semi-finals; Pusey beat 2025 champion Simon Whitlock 8-4.
- Smith qualifies for the 2027 PDC World Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts and A$30,000.
- It will be his fourth World Championship appearance.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 ANZ Premier League? Raymond Smith of Australia, who beat Tim Pusey 10-2 in the final in Brisbane.
What does the ANZ Premier League winner receive? A place at the PDC World Darts Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts, plus A$30,000 in prize money.
When is the 2027 PDC World Darts Championship? It runs from 11 December to 3 January at Alexandra Palace in London.
Sources: DartsNews, Wikipedia