“If I said I didn’t feel pressure I’d be lying" admits Michael Smith ahead of crucial few months

The coming months are arguably some of the most important in Michael Smith's darting career. After his brilliance two years ago, 'BullyBoy' now has over £650,000 to defend in the Order of Merit, risking an alarming drop down the world rankings if he suffers early exits at the Grand Slam and the World Darts Championship.

In fact, in the provisional, post-Ally Pally Order of Merit via Darts Rankings, Smith is down in a lowly 14th place. “If I said I didn’t feel pressure I’d be lying," Smith told the Darts Show Podcast about the situation. "But I’ve been around this game long enough now to know what’s happening. Yes I’m defending a lot of money; yes I’m not playing at the level I’d like to be, but I think in spells you’ve seen what I can produce."

Indeed two years ago, Smith produced some of his very best darts to finally break his major final losing streak and claim the Grand Slam of Darts title, going on to claim the World Darts Championship title at the Alexandra Palace a few months later. His form has fluctuated in the time since though, and despite spells of brilliance, Smith has failed to really kick on, leaving him with so much work to do to keep a spot in the upper echelons of the PDC Order of Merit.

“I know it’s there, it’s just not consistently there, and I think that’s down to last year where I only really played stage events. I lost a bit of confidence in my game,'' he explains, staying optimistic. “Hopefully it all falls into place, but if it doesn’t, come next year it’s a new season and I’ve got virtually nothing to defend.”

“For the last five to six months I’ve been practising non-stop. I’m in the process of getting a games room built so I’ll be practising even harder to get ready for the World Championship," Smith continues. “I’ve also got a gym being built to try and get into shape. The schedule is relentless, but I am going to play as much as I can and try and get back to where I belong next year.”

Notably, in his Grand Slam of Darts group, Smith has been paired with World Grand Prix champion Mike de Decker, European Championship runner up Jermaine Wattimena and World Cup of Darts finalist Mensur Suljovic, with the latter being his tournament opener on Saturday night in Wolverhampton.