Ross Smith praying darts cult hero gets final farewell at World Championships with Ally Pally spot in major doubt

ROSS SMITH hopes darts legend Steve Beaton gets one final Ally Pally send-off before hanging up his darts as a professional.

Beaton — the 1996 Lakeside champion — is retiring at the end of the year at the age of 60.

Ross Smith hopes Steve Beaton is able to qualify for this year’s world championshipsGetty

Beaton has appeared in every world championships for the past 32 yearsGetty

He has appeared in every world darts championship since 1992 — BDO and PDC — but that sequence is under threat.

Beaton is not part of the field for this winter’s PDC event but gets one more chance to qualify via a tour card holder event in Wigan on Monday.

Practice partner and close pal Smith, 35, said: “One hundred per cent, I want him to get there.

“I reckon 90 per cent of people sitting at home will be cheering for him to have one last send-off.

“I don’t remember his Lakeside win. I was only seven years old but I wind him up about it. Two years later I got his autograph. I still have that programme.

“Steve can still play. He’s just had enough really. He still beats me on the practice board, which I’m not always happy about.

“I practice with him before every tournament, we play silly games.

“I will be a bit lost without him next year. If I have his career and play for as long as he has — and keep myself fit — I’ll be made up with that.”

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After his last Pro Tour appearance in October, Beaton was celebrated by Smith and other pals, who donned comic mullet wigs and furry moustaches.

Smith, the 2022 European champion, added: “The meal was good.

“But if anyone had had a few tears, Steve would have slapped us.

“The guy is admired and liked that much. All credit to him, he’s a top man.”