Former world champion Michael Smith heads to Alexandra Palace defending a whole lot of rating cash however insists his solely focus is successful the entire thing.
Smith has been inconsistent ever since he received his maiden world title in January 2023, admitting to spending a yr celebrating finishing his dream, the St Helens man hitting a nine-darter on the way in which to being topped champion of the world.
In Could, he then picked up his first rating title in 11 months earlier than successful the World Cup of Darts alongside Luke Humphries, giving glimpses of the sensational expertise each darts fan is aware of he possesses.
Because of the PDC’s two-year Order of Advantage system, Smith wants a superb run on the Worlds simply to remain within the prime 10, a feat many would see as pressurised, particularly as a former world no 1.
Nevertheless, Smith maintains that he solely has one focus and that’s changing into a two-time world champion and from that, the rankings will type themselves.
But when he have been ever to drop out of the highest 64, you wont be seeing ‘BullyBoy’ at Q College.
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Michael Smith lifted the Sid Waddell trophy after beating Michael van Gerwen within the World Championship Ultimate.
“I really don’t (think about it), because the only thing that stresses me out now is the questions about that. But I’m not bothered about it, because I’m not going to fall out of the top 16,” Smith mentioned.
“I might fall out of the top 10 if I don’t pull my finger out, but it means next year then, because I’ve virtually took a year now, I’ve got nothing to defend.
“So I’ve obtained most likely about £120,000 to defend subsequent yr, so I will be again to work alongside anyway. So subsequent yr, not bothered, no strain, I simply wish to play darts. The opposite facet of that, my administration crew can fear about it, my household can fear about it, I simply wish to play.
“As long as I don’t fall out of 64, because then I’ll retire then. If I fall out of 64, I won’t do Q School, because I know I wasn’t good enough, so I’ll just literally start something else.”
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Michael Smith produced an outstanding remaining leg to win the World Championship Ultimate towards Michael van Gerwen
With a lot at stake and a combined yr to date, Smith is aware of he may flip up at Alexandra Palace and switch a 50/50 yr into an excellent yr and with that in thoughts, his “bare minimum” goal is a run to the semi-finals.
“Every time I play, I want to win. So the main goal is just to win the World Championships. The bare minimum I’d want is at least a semi-final. Even then, semis, I’d lose £400,000 on my ranking,” Smith added.
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Michael Smith hits an unbelievable no-look 180 regardless of discovering himself three legs down towards Mike De Decker on the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts
“But semis for me is bare minimum, but I’m only turning up to win. Like you shouldn’t think about, I’d love to get to the third round of the World’s, or the last 16, you want to be the World Champion. That’s my main target, my only target, is winning.
“It’s all taking place to December 15 when a month of the Worlds begins. If I can have my sport prepared for that, or win the Worlds, my yr’s been superb once more.
“So it’s just that one event that we worked 12 months for, win that, and then everything’s forgotten about then.
“The Ally Pally, there is not any higher feeling, particularly whenever you’re standing on that stage as effectively. You spent 12 months of the yr attempting to get there, you are lastly there, and you do not wish to blow it then. That is the one little bit of strain on your self that you simply suppose, neglect being out, it has been a wasted yr.”
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Talking on Love The Darts, Sky Sports activities Darts editor Megan Wellens and Matthew Edgar talk about the strain on Michael Smith’s rating place on the finish of this yr
When will the World Darts Championship happen?
The event will get beneath manner at Alexandra Palace on Sunday December 15, with three first-round matches and one second-round match on the opening night.
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Talking on Love The Darts, Michael Bridge and Polly James debate which gamers are nonetheless to be feared when taking part in towards them
There can be dwell darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon classes, with the same old three-day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day earlier than returning with the third spherical and a double session on December 27.
The third and fourth rounds can be accomplished by December 30 earlier than an evening off on New 12 months’s Eve, with the quarter-finals held throughout two classes on New 12 months’s Day forward of the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday January 3.
The total day-by-day schedule for this yr’s event may be discovered right here.
Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely dwell from December 15-January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW.
