On Tuesday, Players Championship 5 took place, with Ross Smith claiming the title after defeating Chris Dobey in the final.
However, when fans watched the tournament highlights, much of the reaction focused on a single striking moment captured in the footage.
Volume warning for headphone users (Moment at 00:20)
A newly introduced scoreboard system was also used during the Players Championship events, drawing considerable criticism—particularly during one specific match. In the third round, Michael Smith faced Ross Smith, and because the new scoreboard displays only surnames, it caused significant confusion among viewers.
The production team responsible for compiling the highlight videos had already come under scrutiny last weekend. Footage shared on the official PDC channel prompted debate among fans, many of whom questioned the authenticity of the clips. According to viewers, the crowd appeared to move at an unusually fast pace while the players on stage walked at normal speed, creating a strange visual effect.
Ross Smith himself is unlikely to be concerned about the discussion, as he enjoyed a successful day and added another £15,000 to his earnings with the tournament victory. Finalist Chris Dobey also left with a respectable £10,000 in prize money.
Dutch players Niels Zonneveld and Christian Kist also performed well, each reaching the quarter-finals and earning £4,000.
Players Championship 6 is scheduled for Wednesday, followed a day later by another night of Premier League action in Leicester.
The main question remains when Michael van Gerwen will return to competitive action. The Dutch star is still suffering from illness and remains unable to compete in tournaments.
He missed last week’s Premier League event, and there is a strong possibility that he could be absent for a second consecutive week.