Sports · Grand Slam dartsRusty Jake Rodriguez darts: 5-3 Grand Slam win puts Ross Smith on brinkWritten November 15, 2026 at 8:42 AM UTCWatchTranscript0:00Rusty Jake Rodriguez darts five minus three grand slam win puts Ross Smith on brink.0:07Rusty Jake Rodriguez beat European champion Ross Smith five three in their grand0:11slam opener.0:12Smith has one group match left against Gabriel Clemens, and another defeat ends his0:16tournament.0:17How much room does Smith still have to recover?0:19Rodriguez took five of the eight legs, the individual games that make up a darts0:23match.0:23The Austrian qualifier has beaten a two time major winner, but both players still0:28have work to do to reach the knockout stage.0:30Smith arrived with the European Championship title freshly won.0:33That makes this an immediate setback for an established champion.0:36With only two matches available to each player in the group, he has already used0:40half his opportunities.0:41The match took place at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton on Saturday,0:45November14.0:46Rodriguez reached the tournament through the PDC tour card holder qualifier.0:49Then turned that opportunity into an opening victory over Smith.0:53Rodriguez reportedly collected only his third ranking win of the season.0:56That season count needs caution because its scope hasn't been confirmed.1:00The result itself gives him an opening win against one of the tournament's1:03established title winners.1:04Rodriguez averaged eighty-three point four three points for every three darts.1:08Smith averaged eighty-six point five one, yet lost by two legs.1:12Smith's higher scoring average couldn't secure the result because a darts match1:16rewards the player who wins the legs.1:17Rodriguez's checkout rate was forty, one point six seven percent, measuring how1:21often he converted a chance to finish a leg.1:23Smith's equivalent figure isn't available, so a direct comparison of their finishing1:27isn't possible.1:28Subscribe to this channel to follow Smith's remaining group match and the fight to1:32qualify.1:32Smith beat William O'Connor eight, five in the players' championship twenty final in1:36Milton Keynes earlier this year.1:38He averaged one hundred and seven point zero one in that final.1:40Against Rodriguez, his average was eighty-six point five one, a very different1:44performance from that title, winning match.1:46That players' championship victory followed Smith's first European tour title.1:50His opening defeat here leaves him trying to recover in a format that gives each1:54player very little time to repair a poor start.1:56The field contains forty-eight players in sixteen groups of three.1:59Each player meets both opponents once and earns two points for a win.2:03Only the group winner advances with leg difference and then legs one separating2:07players' level on points.2:08Smith must beat Clemens, and the margin matters.2:11If Smith wins and Clemens then beats Rodriguez, all three players could finish with2:15one victory.2:15The tie breaks would then decide who advances.2:18A Smith win alone wouldn't guarantee qualification.2:20Clemens still has both group opponents to face.2:23Smith is scheduled to play him on Sunday, November15 in the evening session.2:27That session begins at seven p.2:30m.2:30UK time.2:31Smith's individual match doesn't have a confirmed start time.2:34Rodriguez also has Clemens left to play, but the date needs confirmation.2:38The published schedules disagree over whether that match takes place on Sunday or2:42Tuesday.2:43One schedule places Rodriguez against Clemens on Tuesday, November17 .2:47Another puts them together on Sunday, November15.2:49An authoritative fixture confirmation is still needed, while Smith's Sunday evening2:53meeting with Clemens is the immediate recovery opportunity.2:56Smith can still finish first, but he needs a sufficiently strong win and help from3:00the other result.3:01Another defeat eliminates him.3:03If Rodriguez beats Clemens, Rodriguez finishes with two victories and takes the3:07group's only knockout place.Read the articleStory timelineHeyDex
