🗣️“In practice everything is going smooth again, no more snatching. It’s just not happened for me in the last two events.” 🏴 Michael Smith talks about defending his title at the @paddypower World Championship media day. #darts
"I just don't want to be known as a 'former' World Champion" - Michael Smith determined to continue reigning at Alexandra Palace
PDCTuesday, 28 November 2023 at 15:00
On Monday night, the draw for the upcoming World Darts Championship took place. Reigning champion Michael Smith will begin the defence of his crown against the winner of the duel between Kevin Doets and Stowe Buntz.
Smith became world champion for the first time early this year by defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in the final. "It's come too quick," said the 33-year-old Englishman in conversation with Oche 180. "It's felt like the year of being a World Champion has just gone."
'Bullyboy' went out early at each of the past majors, not exact a good omen of his form heading into the World Championship. “In practice everything is going smooth again, no more snatching, everything is going right. It's just not quite happened in the last two events and it's something that needs working on. I've got three weeks now in the lead up to this. If I get through the first round it's another two weeks off them."
Nevertheless, Smith heads to Alexandra Palace with confidence. "Everyone has seen over the last two years, if I play like I can do at the World Championship, I've made the final two years running. Everyone knows I can do it. It's not just been a fluke and the last two years I've proved it."
"The sad part is, if I don't win it I'll become a former World Champion. I know eventually it's going to happen, because I'm not going to do a Phil Taylor and win every single year now, I just don't want to be known as a 'former' World Champion, even though it's a good thing to have. I want to still be called the reigning, that's going to motivate me more than anything else."
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- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
- There are 30 Players Championship rounds to play first throughout the year and you have to be in the top 64 to get to the finals. This is probably the hardest Major to win as its the top 128 players at each event or the top ranked Challenge Tour players if any tour card holders drop out.Mysstree20-11-2024
- So the winner of this 4 day event just gets $30k less than the winner of the Grand Slam which is played over 9 days?medinabello20-11-2024
- If John McDonald is doing Kirk Bevins job, then just give him the mic & save 1 pay packet.Cameron.W19-11-2024