'The PDC seem very invested in it' - Raymond Smith supportive and excited for new Australian Tour

The PDC has confirmed plans to launch a new Premier League-style darts series across Australia and New Zealand later this year, with eight nights of action scheduled across the two countries throughout October and November. Each night will feature a full matchday, and the eventual winner will earn a spot at the 2025 World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

One man already eyeing up the opportunity is former Ally Pally crowd favourite Raymond Smith.

The 45-year-old Australian has long been a mainstay of the domestic darts scene and has competed on both the BDO and PDC World Championship stages. He made his televised debut at Lakeside in 2017, defeating Belgium’s Davy Van Baelen in the preliminary round before losing to Geert De Vos. But it was his run at the 2022 PDC World Championship that really made people take notice – Smith battled his way to the last 16, only losing a high-quality contest 4–3 to Mervyn King.

His son, Ky Smith, has followed in his footsteps, making appearances at the PDC Worlds in 2022 and the WDF version in 2024.

The newly announced Premier League series will be part of a revamped tour organised by the Australian Darts Association (ADA), who aim to give elite players in the region more meaningful opportunities. Smith admits he was cautious when the idea was first floated. “When I first heard about it, I didn't know what it was," he admits to the Weekly Dartscast. "We have three Tours here already and I didn't know if we really needed another one."