A SUPERB fightback from Michael Smith was not enough to claim Betfred World Matchplay glory with Rob Cross claiming an 18-13 success at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Sunday night.
Cross followed up his fairy-tale 2018 World Championship success with a second televised ranking title as he scooped the Phil Taylor Trophy and a £150,000 pay-day in style.
Smith had missed nine doubles during the opening six legs of that spell, but finally found his range.
After trailing 12-4 Smith cut the gap to just two legs at 15-13 as he threatened to complete the greatest comeback in the event's history.
The former World Youth Champion added: "I'd rather have got beaten in the first round than lose in that final - it hurts less.
"I'm fuming - I keep making finals but I don't want to be "the nearly man", I want to be the one that wins them."
The 13 maximums hit during the final ensured that a new record for 180s in the tournament was set, with the final tally of 330 surpassing the previous best of 323 in the 2015 event.
The record-breaking number of 180s also contributed to a £32,000 donation from Betfred to Parkinson's UK.
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