Michael Smith has revealed he was “crying in bed” days earlier than qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts.
The 2023 world champion booked his ticket to the foremost occasion in Wolverhampton – reside on Sky Sports activities from November 8 to 16 – on Friday.
Qualification noticed Smith draw an emphatic line below a torrid 2025 beset by arthritis and wrist, shoulder and foot accidents.
Having slid out of the world’s prime 16 and missed out on the Premier League, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, Smith returns to the scene of his 2022 Grand Slam triumph hoping to kick-start his profession as soon as extra.
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Michael Smith was overwhelmed by emotion on the stage after successful the Grand Slam Of Darts – his first main match on the ninth try
“You don’t understand the relief I felt today playing these matches,” Smith.
“From three weeks in the past crying in mattress as a result of I am unable to stroll, to then successful the qualifiers right now felt unreal.
“I don’t show what I’ve been doing in the practice room but some of my game came out to play. And my emotions certainly did.”
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Michael Smith ended his PDC main jinx as he held aloft the Eric Bristow trophy following his convincing 16-5 win
‘Loads of time to battle again’
‘Bully Boy’ Smith has suffered 19 first-round exits on the ProTour in 2025 and faces the prospect of ending the 12 months title-less for the primary time since 2019.
However with qualification for the PDC World Darts Championship nonetheless up for grabs by to the tip of the 12 months, Smith stays centered on proving his doubters fallacious.
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Watch how, in 2023, Wayne Mardle and Stuart Pyke reacted to the sensational leg between Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith within the World Championship Closing that culminated in a nine-darter for Bully Boy
“I didn’t have the greatest results but if you saw my games I had a couple of 96 averages and a 101 average,” he instructed Darts Nook. “Even one of the matches I lost with a 96 I had a first-nine average of 124.
“So, it is simply the successful bit now that’s doing my head in. For me now, it’s about attending to the World Championship. All I’ve to do is win three or 4 video games after which I’m again within the prime 10.
“For me, it’s just get there, get myself back on TV, get back playing well – because I know I will do it.
“You may have some ex-pros saying I am gone, however they’ve tried it and give up and develop into commentators. I’m solely 35, so I’ve received loads of time to battle again.”
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