DENNIS Smith admitted his doubles let him down once again as he slipped out of the UK Open in the second round yesterday.

Smith was in impressive form as he muscled his way past Mark Hylton 5-1 in his opening game, but had no answer for Peter Hudson in the second as he went down 5-2.

The experienced pro was clinical in his first round as he dispatched Hylton, but admitted his touch on the doubles went missing when it was time for him to face Hudson.

“I was up for this one, I really was, but just as I was hitting the doubles at the crucial times in my first game I was missing them at the crucial times in the second one,” he said.

“What goes around comes around, I know that, but it’s still very disappointing because I was really up for this weekend.

“I wasn’t miles away on the doubles, it was just the width of the wire, but then again it’s the wire that separates the game and splits the inners and the losers.

“I came out of the second one with confidence and I felt really quite comfortable but then in the second it wasn’t there. I played a game before and he didn’t and maybe that was the difference.

Despite the disappointment, PDC veteran Smith has vowed to return next year as he bids to make it into the last 32 for the first time in his long, distinguished, career.

“I’m disappointed but I’ll be back next year, I will always be back,” he said.

“I have a few bullets in my barrel and I will be back. It’s a great tournament, one all the players always enjoy, and I’m really looking forward to having another go at it next year.”