"I’m drilling it into myself and everything I’m doing is for that one thing": Smith only has sights set on World Darts Championship glory

Michael Smith will face Stephen Bunting in another St Helens derby in the Quarter-Finals of the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship as he aims to reach the semi-finals at Ally Pally.

Speaking ahead of the tie with Bunting, he has his sights set only on one thing and that is becoming World Champion which is always a mantra he holds.

“It would mean everything,” declared Smith. “I started playing darts in 2005 and I got the bug straight away."

“The only thing I want to do is be World Champion. If you become World Champion, you have completed something.

“Even now at 32 years old, I practice all the time and I tell myself: ‘I’ve got 100 left and if you hit this, you’re going to be World Champion.’

“I keep telling myself every time you hit it, you’ll be World Champion. I’m drilling it into myself and everything I’m doing is for that one thing.”

But he admitted that Van Gerwen is still the favourite but won't have it easy with both himself and Gerwyn Price also still left in.

“Michael [van Gerwen] is the red-hot favourite and is always going to be, but there is still me and Gezzy left,” added the former World Youth Champion.

“If one of us wins [this title] you’re world number one, you’re the best player in the world.

“I want to play the best players; I want to beat the best players and I want to show how far my game has come.”