Ross Smith fought hard in his World Masters match against Luke Littler, but lost 4-1.
What happened?
Littler started strong, claiming the first set with a 116 average.
Smith landed two maximums at the start of the second set but busted his 59 finish.
Why it matters for Ross Smith
The loss sets back Smith's tournament run, despite his determined display.
Littler's win advances him to the quarter-finals, where he will play Josh Rock.
Smith had stopped the rot with a hold at the start of the fourth set.
What comes next?
Littler's next match is against Josh Rock, who beat Rob Cross 4-1.
Smith will look to regroup and come back stronger in his next tournament.
The World Masters continues, with top darts players competing for the title.
And Smith's performance showed he can compete at this level.
But Littler's clinical finishes made the difference in this match.
So the quarter-finals will be an exciting stage of the tournament.
Littler's 120 finish in the fifth set was a key moment.
Smith had forced a decider with a 101 checkout.
The match was played at the Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes.
On this occasion, Littler's skill won out.
The tournament features top players like Luke Littler and Josh Rock.
Smith's experience will help him in future matches.
The World Masters is a key tournament in the darts calendar.