"I’d love to retire sometimes, but the bank balance isn’t great!": Emotional Michael Smith fights back on major return after injury hell

After a long and unpredictable few days in Wolverhampton, Michael Smith secured his place in the last 16 of the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts with a little help from elsewhere in the form of Luke Humphries.

The 2023 World Champion admitted relief, gratitude, and a growing sense of belief after navigating his way through the group stage, following an injury-riddled year that had left him battling just to get back on stage and also crying in Wolverhampton at his opening game.

“I’m over the moon,” Smith said after learning his progression was confirmed. “I’ve not produced anything like I want to, but watching that game I thought, ‘Nathan’s going to win 5–1, he’s just going to win.’ Luke’s helped me out massively, and I’m into the last 16 now, so I can finally relax, get out of the group and try to play something like I have been in the last couple of weeks of practice.”

Smith had done his job earlier in the evening, beating Alex Spellman 5–2, but he admitted frustration at not finishing the job more emphatically.

“I was thinking to myself, I’m going to go for my 5–0, especially after that first leg,” he said. “I just couldn’t put two in the treble. I did my job getting the two points, but I’d have liked it to be 5–0 or 5–1. I know it’s hard saying that, but I’ll take 5–2. I’m not playing well, but at least I’m through and can now focus on Wednesday.”

The Grand Slam marks Smith’s return to televised action after several months out due to persistent injuries to his wrist, shoulder, and feet. He was forced to miss major events including the World Matchplay and European Championship, and only qualified for Wolverhampton through the qualifier, a route he joked he never expected to take.

“It was kind of a backdoor job,” he admitted. “I should never have been here. I was at the qualifier moaning to Chizzy (Dave Chisnall), saying, ‘This is a tournament for winners and runners-up, we shouldn’t be playing qualifiers!’ Then I got through and thought, ‘Yeah, we should be!’

“I literally just snuck through the back door, but it’s another tournament. I’ve got this, then the Players. I just want to use them as stepping stones and be ready for the Worlds. I’ve got about four weeks to be ready — that’s all I’m bothered about. Win, lose, whatever, I just want to be happy again playing darts.”

Smith has been managing his ongoing injuries with the help of new medical equipment designed to relieve pain and improve circulation.

“I’ve got machines on my feet, my wrist, my shoulder — I’ve got to learn to do things differently now,” he explained. “It’s literally like a plate that ices and heats at the same time. I do 20 minutes on each area, alternating between six degrees and 40 degrees, for over an hour every session. It’s helping — though if you want a proper explanation, you’ll have to ask my wife because I didn’t understand a word of the medical terms!”

Despite the progress, Smith knows his injuries are chronic. “It’s arthritis, it’s not going away,” he said. “I’ve got arthritis in both feet and my wrist. I broke both wrists when I was 19. I’ve just got to grit my teeth and go through it.

“When I won the Worlds, I think my body just said, ‘You’ve finally done it, you can relax.’ And when I relaxed, that’s when the pain started. Now it’s about getting to that level again. I want that second World Championship to catch up to Anderson and then go from there.”

Smith’s enforced absence from the sport has reignited the fire that once drove him to become world number one.

“I remember when I wanted to quit darts at 19, and my brother brought me back, gave me that hunger again,” he said. “This year’s been the same. Sitting out everything has given me the hunger back. I just want to fight again, play again, be back on the big stage. I’m sick of watching — Luke’s won everything! It’s annoying seeing his face every week now,” he laughed.

The former world champion insists he’s not putting too much pressure on himself, despite the expectations surrounding his comeback.

“I didn’t want to come here and lose all three games and say, ‘I’m just happy to compete again’, that’s not my mindset,” he said. “I wanted to win all three. Me and Humphries — it wasn’t the greatest game, was it? It took a 139 nine-darter to beat me!

“I’m not pushing the big boys yet, but I’m trying to get back there. To be in the last 16 now, I’m happy with it.”

As for his physical readiness for longer matches, Smith insists he’s confident — even if there’s always a risk.

“There’s no concern for me. I’m in the last 16, so I’m there now,” he said. “But, you know what, it happens. Like Forrest Gump said when he started running — it happens! I’m ready for it now. I’m ready to be back, ready to be beaten again, ready to travel the world again. I’m ready to be back in the biggest tournaments — that’s where I want to be.”

Smith spoke candidly about the mental side of returning to the spotlight after such a long layoff.

“I think it was 2018 when I made my first major final — I lost that one, then the next, and the next,” he recalled. “There was always pressure — people saying, ‘When’s he going to win? Has he got the bottle?’ I’ve dealt with that.

“Going into Wigan last weekend, I didn’t care about the ProTours. I got beat every game, was fuming, saying I was quitting — but really, I didn’t care. It was all about that last day for the Grand Slam. When I hit the winning double against Krzysztof Ratajski, I gave it the big one and got told off. I said, ‘I’ve not been on TV for eight months!’

“I think everyone saw that day what it means to me. I’ve been playing since I was 15, joined the PDC at 17 — this is my 18th season. I’ve given half my life to this game. I’m not just going to quit and roll over. I’ve got to keep fighting.”

Smith’s next test comes against Chris Dobey — another Premier League regular and a good friend.

“Another Premier League player, I’ve just got to get on with it now,” he said. “There’s no pressure. Playing Dobes will be tough, I’ve already played Luke and Nathan, so it’s another mate. It’s a longer format, so there’s a bit of leeway if I don’t start great, but I’ve got to hit the ground running, play well and give the crowd a good show.”

Above all, Smith says his biggest motivation now comes from home. “My boys both play rugby and darts — Junior’s 11, Kasper’s 8,” he smiled. “What example would I set if I quit? It’s about showing them you keep fighting through barriers.

“I’d love to retire sometimes, but the bank balance isn’t great! I just want to set a prime example for my kids — show them that if they work hard, they never quit. It’ll happen if they keep fighting.”

Despite modest expectations, Smith’s belief is quietly returning. “Every game is a stepping stone to the Worlds,” he said. “If I get beat by Dobey on Wednesday, I’ve still had a good tournament, I’ve been off eight months. I’ve won this tournament before, why can’t I win it again?”