"I’ve won the World Championship, I’ve been World No. 1": Michael Smith more preoccupied with shaking illness over rankings and prize money

Michael Smith admitted he was far from his best despite securing a comfortable 6–2 victory over James Hurrell at the German Darts Grand Prix, revealing he has been struggling with illness over the past week.

Speaking to DartsNews after the match, Smith played down the quality of the contest at the German Darts Grand Prix, instead highlighting the physical challenges both players faced on stage including as he zoned in on later on illness. 'Bully Boy' may have won through but said that while his ailments are starting to wane, he has been struggling this week.

He was facing Hurrell who as of late has been in exceptional form all the way back to the World Darts Championship so on paper is a tricky customer but he dealt with him pretty easily despite admitting in his mind there was no such performance. For Smith it was all about getting over the line with no hiccups.

“I don’t think there was a performance involved,” Smith said to DartsNews. “He was struggling and I wasn’t. I just took my chances, especially that first leg. We both just struggled, and that’s been happening to me for the last week or so with being ill. But I just got on stage, got the win, and I’m back tomorrow now, and that’s the main thing.”

Despite the circumstances, Smith was full of praise for the Munich crowd, a venue where he has previously enjoyed success.

“I always love coming here. They’re always amazing—unless you’re playing a German!” he joked. “Whenever you’re not playing a German, they’re an amazing crowd. I was lucky enough to win here a couple of years ago, and I’d love to come back and do it again because there’s no better city to win in than Munich.”

The victory moves the former World Champion into the next round, where he will face Dave Chisnall, but Smith insisted rankings and prize money are not his primary focus at this stage of his career.

“I’m not bothered just now. It’s about just keeping winning matches and doing my thing,” he explained. “I’ve won the World Championship, I’ve been World No. 1, so there’s not a position I haven’t been in, and there’s not a position I haven’t had to climb out of.

“I dropped down to 16, got back up to No. 1, dropped to 7, got back to 4—so it doesn’t bother me whatsoever. It’s just about turning up and winning matches, and if I win matches, the rankings take care of themselves.”

While the result was convincing on paper, Smith admitted his current condition is still affecting his performances, although he reassured fans there are no injury concerns.

“Injury-wise, all good,” he said. “My health with illness at the minute—not so good. I’ve been ill for the last week, no energy whatsoever, and I think you just saw that on stage.

“But injury-wise, everything’s going good. It’s just about getting over this little illness, and then everything else feels good. Feet feel fine, wrist, shoulder—everything’s good.”

With a place in the next round secured, Smith will now look to raise his level when he returns to the stage against Chisnall, hoping a return to full health will allow him to hit top form once again.