BOLTON darter Ross Smith felt he had let his fans down after losing 9-7 to former BDO World Lakeside champion Jelle Klaasen in the third round of the UK Open at the Reebok Stadium tonight.

The 24-year-old, who lives in Tonge Fold, was on home soil at the home of Bolton Wanderers and had fantastic support from locals amongst the crowd at the event dubbed 'The FA Cup of darts'.

Against the Dutch star, Smith fell two legs behind tonight but hauled himself back to 2-2.

He then fell behind 4-2, then 6-4 and 7-5 before raising hopes in the crowd by drawing level at 7-7.

But the man who was world champion in 2006 clinched the two frames he needed to progress to round four on Saturday.

Speaking exclusively to The Bolton News afterwards, Smith said: "I'm gutted for the fans who came to support me.

"For some reason I really struggled. It wasn't my real game tonight.

"I feel like I have let people down because it was really good of people to pay money to come and watch me."

Read more from Smith and the views of darting superstars Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen on their love of the Bolton tournament in Monday's The Bolton News.