It would mean a lot to Michael Smith if he manages to prolong his title at the US Darts Masters in New York. Last year, he captured the title at Madison Square Garden by beating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
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It proved to be the prelude to a successful second half of the season, with televised titles at the Grand Slam of Darts and the PDC World Darts Championship later in the season. To top it all off, 'Bullyboy' also became the new world number one.
“Winning here last year was up there with one of the biggest things I have ever won. It was massive. All of the players wanted it backstage and to get my name on that trophy, it was an unreal feeling.
“I saw the billboard with my face on in Times Square. It’s a weird feeling – it feels like you shouldn’t be up there.
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“It is mad thinking about it, but it’s so good to be back and hopefully I can see my name on that title again, it would mean everything to me.”
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
"It is so good to be back and hopefully I can see my name on that title again, it would mean everything to me." 🏆
World Champion Michael Smith is bidding to become the first player to retain the US Darts Masters title in New York this weekend! 🇺🇸👇