Jeff Smith makes history with MODUS Super Series title

Jeff Smith etched his name into the record books on Saturday night by winning the 11th season of the MODUS Super Series after a tense finale in Portsmouth. The Silencer defeated Dutchman Jimmy van Schie 4–3 in the decider, avenging an earlier loss to the same opponent on the night, to become the first North American player to capture a Super Series crown. The triumph earned the Canadian £25,000 in prize money.

Smith’s victory brought the curtain down on the latest Super Series cycle, which runs across 13 weeks. Across the opening 12 weeks, groups of invited players battle for weekly titles, with the dozen winners progressing to the Champions Week finale. There, the field is split into three groups as players fight for places on the last night of action.

This time, Graham Usher was the first to book his spot in the finals night after topping Group A earlier in the week. Group B produced three qualifiers in Jurjen van der Velde, Adam Gawlas and Smith, while Group C saw Van Schie and former World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton advance

The six-man Finals Night line-up was then divided into two groups of three. In Group A, Van der Velde booked his place in the final with victories over Hamilton (4–2) and Usher (4–1). Usher still made it through to the semi-finals as runner-up after edging Hamilton 4–3 in their clash.

Group B saw Van Schie shine, beating Gawlas 4–1 before edging Smith 4–3 to top the section. Smith, however, did enough to qualify as runner-up thanks to a narrow 4–3 win over Gawlas.

In the semi-finals, Smith produced a 4–2 win over Van der Velde to ensure the final would not be an all-Dutch affair. Van Schie then joined him by beating Usher 4–2, setting up a rematch of their earlier group-stage encounter.

This time, though, Smith turned the tables. In a nervy contest, the 2016 Lakeside finalist held his nerve to edge out Van Schie 4–3 and secure his place in Super Series history.

Smith becomes the tenth different player to win a Super Series season, joining an eclectic roll of honour that includes Conan Whitehead, Raymond Smith, Luke Littler, Jim McEwan, Scott Taylor, Andreas Harrysson, Marvin van Velzen, Darius Labanauskas and Jenson Walker. Littler remains the only player to win multiple seasons, having lifted the trophy twice in 2023 at just 16 years of age — months before his breakout run at the World Championship.

Results final night MODUS Super Series 11

Saturday, Aug. 16

Group A

Graham Usher 4-3 Andy Hamilton

Andy Hamilton 2-4 Jurjen van der Velde

Jurjen van der Velde 4-1 Graham Usher

Group B

Jeff Smith 4-3 Adam Gawlas

Adam Gawlas 1-4 Jimmy van Schie

Jimmy van Schie 4-3 Jeff Smith

Semifinals

Jurjen van der Velde 2-4 Jeff Smith

Jimmy van Schie 4-2 Graham Usher

Final

Jeff Smith 4-3 Jimmy van Schie