Michael Smith is in the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts. Behind the 2023 world champion lies a long period of suffering with some setbacks and a deep fall in the world rankings. The 35-year-old is currently celebrating his very own hero’s journey.
Michael Smith is currently experiencing his resurrection at the Grand Slam of Darts (the entire tournament LIVE on SPORT1 ) in Wolverhampton. The 2023 world champion is finally back in the quarter-finals of a major tournament after a long period of suffering, coupled with setbacks and a deep fall in the PDC Order of Merit.
That’s why the 35-year-old also had mixed feelings after his progress, as he confessed in the Mixed Zone: “I didn’t play particularly well, but I took my chance when it was possible.”
Michael Smith is in the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts
Darts superstar admits: “It annoys me”
In the decisive 19th leg of the match, both players showed nerves, missing one match dart after another. “I just wanted to get on my knees and hope he would miss again,” Smith gave an insight into his emotional world.
Ultimately, he managed to hit the double 4 and bag the 10:9 against Dobey. The Bully Boy couldn’t really be happy about that on stage. He explained to Sky Sports : “I’m happy to be here, but it reminds me. I’m trying to remember 2022 and force things instead of having fun.”
Smith makes injuries public
Three years ago, Smith won his first major tournament in Wolverhampton and shortly afterwards the World Championship the following January. The Englishman had arrived in the darts Olympus, but what nobody could have guessed at the time: It was also his last major title. The year 2023 went quite well, before the slump followed in 2024, with the ex-world champion’s exit in the 1st round of the 2025 World Cup against Kevin Doets as the low point.
Afterwards, he made public a serious shoulder and hand injury that had been bothering him for a long time – and is still holding him back today. Smith had to take a break and take care of his body. During this time, he fell back to 29th place in the world rankings.
Bully Boy: “My presence can influence opponents”
After his round of 16 win in Wolverhampton, he revealed that his joints are always very painful at night, but he manages to concentrate on playing darts at least during the day. “I know I have mental strength,” emphasizes the 35-year-old.
He added: “I’ve put myself in a difficult situation, but despite the injuries, I’m a two-time major champion and former world champion. My presence on stage can influence opponents.”
“Nobody seems to know my name anymore”
For him, the most important thing at the moment is to have fun with the sport again and not be so hard on himself.
“I haven’t been on TV since the UK Open in February/March. Physically, I can handle long matches and I’ve been training despite wrist and shoulder problems. Adrenaline helps, and I know what it takes to win,” said the Bully Boy.
Before the Grand Slam, the former world champion was worried about not being seen anymore and struggled with his early World Cup exit.
“If I had beaten Doets, I probably would have played in the Premier League. I would have been at all the majors, maybe reached the semi-finals or finals,” Smith suspected in the Weekly Dartscast podcast and was annoyed: “But because of one bad game, nobody seems to know my name anymore.”
Back in the spotlight before the Darts World Championship
But now he is back in the spotlight in time for the Darts World Championship (Darts World Championship from December 11th LIVE on TV on SPORT1 ) and will meet no one other than Luke Humphries, the number one in the world, in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The two already met in the group stage, where Humphries had the better of the match. But Smith is confident enough to take another big step on his personal hero’s journey.
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