🗣️ "This is why I love this event and I love this format." Hear the thoughts of reigning champion Michael Smith following his superb comeback victory over Kevin Doets...
"It's the game that I needed I think": Michael Smith relieved to avert opening night shock in Ally Pally title defence
PDCSaturday, 16 December 2023 at 11:00
Michael Smith came from 2-1 down to deny Dutch ace, Kevin Doets who in the minds of many stole the show on the opening night at the PDC World Darts Championship, with all headlines being about the 25-year-old Dutchman based in Sweden and his excellence.
But Smith is still very much standing and said that he believes that in a year where he has been poor since Ally Pally glory, he needed that tough test to begin and now has nearly two weeks to put it right before the latter stage run-in.
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"It's the game that I needed I think," said Smith post match. "Being 2-1 down, it was nice to show that I've still got the fight and I still know how to battle back. The last 7/8 legs there I managed to play well and get the job done. If I hadn't missed five darts at double, I could've made it a lot easier. But I'm happy, got a nice 11 days off now."
"This is why I love this event and this format. He can win as many things as he wants to like if you're playing the Matchplay, you're 9-5 down and he needs one more leg. Being 2-1 down, you can still win two legs."
"I felt in a good rhythm, I know Kevin started to stop on the oche at 2-2 but I just kept myself in my focus. The 180's annoyed me as there weren't as many as I have been doing in practice but I've got 11 days to put it right."
But still arriving as the reigning World Champion for the first time didn't evoke new feelings and instead had feelings of old and the same ones he has felt throughout the year.
"When I arrived here, I got the same butterflies that I've got for the past 13 years driving up the hill. I'm glad it wasn't even more pressure I was putting on myself. When John called my name, the butterflies disappeared and the goosebumps appeared."
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