"I only seem to do it when I need to": Smith thrives under play-off pressure as Premier League Darts hopes boosted in Leeds

Michael Smith has admitted that he felt under pressure prior to his nightly Premier League Darts win in Leeds last night.

"It was a big night for me this. It felt a lot like my top four chances were a bit bleak, a bit slim," Smith told Emma Paton and Mark Webster immediately following his victory over Gerwyn Price in the nights final. "To come here in Leeds and get the five points it feels massive."

As the reigning world champion and world number one Smith is no stranger to pressure and last night in Leeds, much like at the Alexandra Palace he thrived on that said pressure. "My son has put me under pressure. He said if you get beat you're not qualifying," Smith laughs.

"So I knew when I was coming here it was a big thing for me this and I did it when I played Dimitri a few weeks back, it was a big win there and this one's even better now," he continues. "I just hope I can play like this every week. I only seem to do it when I need to and not when I have to. It's a new learning curve but I'm sure I'll get over it."