"I’m sick of sitting at home watching people win tournaments": Michael Smith breaks down in tears on emotional Grand Slam return

Michael Smith fought back tears during his post match interview after securing an emotional win in his opening group match at the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts — a victory that marked a long-awaited return to the stage for the former world champion.

Speaking after the match to Viaplay, Smith admitted the result meant far more than just two points in the group standings, reflecting on a difficult road back following a run of injuries and personal struggles. He was facing a friend in Nathan Aspinall who himself has battled injury issues and gave him a glowing review in the past week.

But as has been heavily documented, Smith went from being World No.1 and World Champion to suffering with injury and falling down the rankings not able to stem the tide after a poor time after it. While some of it was by his own admission his own doing after enjoying his first few months as World Champion, the battle back to the top has proven to be even harder and one he is still fighting.

“Yeah, it’s been a long road — it’s been a battle,” he said. “Just everything: injuries, life itself. To get up there and win that match was a bit emotional, and yeah, I’m just glad to get over the line.”

It was Smith’s first win on a major stage in some time, and one that appeared to lift a heavy weight from his shoulders. Asked what could be expected from him for the rest of the tournament with group rivals including American debutant Alex Spellman as well as Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall, Smith was honest about the fine margins in his return to winning ways.

“Nathan should’ve won that 5–0,” he said. “I saw his reaction walking off, and then again upstairs in the players’ room — he should’ve won that 5–0. But I managed to dig in, get the job done in the end, and yeah, I took the win.”

The 2023 world champion has endured a tough spell both on and off the oche, and he didn’t hide how much it has taken out of him emotionally. "I’ve always been a fighter,” Smith said. “To be back on stage winning matches — that’s what means the most to me. I’m sick of sitting at home watching people win tournaments. That p**** me off.”

The raw emotion was visible throughout the interview, with Arjan van der Giessen briefly trying to cut it short as Smith continued to be visibly distraught. “S*** happens, I guess,” he sighed, before continuing: “Just leave the injuries out and I’m fine.”

For Smith, the win was more than just a confidence boost — it was a statement that he still belongs among the sport’s elite. “Winning matches — that’s what I’m about, that’s Michael Smith,” he said. “Not sitting at home. Being on big stages, listening to the crowds — that’s me.”

When asked if he’d ever considered walking away from the game entirely, Smith’s answer was immediate. “Not once,” he said firmly. “I made the semis at the UK Open with a hole in my leg. I broke both my hands when I was 19 — I was in casts for five months, and within two weeks of getting them off, I broke all my fingers again. I’m a fighter, that’s it.”

As the interview wrapped up, Smith promised fans that this win would not be a one-off. “I’ll be back — after another win,” he said with determination.