Michael Smith likely to miss more majors after skipping next Players Championship and European Tour events

The entries were confirmed yesterday for Players Championship 22-23 and European Tour 11-12 but there was one glaring omission as Michael Smith decided not to enter any of the tournaments over the next month or so. That could have a future knock on for the former World Champion.

Smith missed the World Matchplay this past week for the first time since 2013 after finishing outside of the qualification spots and he needed to reach the semi-finals of Players Championship 21 but he lost early. The 2019 runner-up instead of deciding to try and get his form back in the coming weeks will seemingly take a break but this could have a knock on.

Now World No.22, he doesn't get into the World Grand Prix for instance by right through the top 16 anymore. He is currently on the cusp of the top 16 on the ProTour but given he won't play the next four events, it could yet be a mountain to climb for 'Bully Boy'.

He is on £57,000 on that Order of Merit behind Raymond van Barneveld narrowly who is on £58,000. But the gaps between aren't that big up to Ricardo Pietreczko in 13th who is on £59,750. So missing these tournaments when a good run would see Smith in could be a poor move. Another player who has decided to skip these events at least on the Players Championship side is Peter Wright.

He is currently 14th but Danny Noppert and Dave Chisnall are right behind him to send him down to World No.16. From there he is currently set to be behind Michael Smith even post World Championship. He is slated to be World No.26 behind Smith who will be in 25th currently. He will not like his fellow former World Champion qualify by right for European Tours and will not do so either on the ProTour side. So it could equal darting purgatory as a result.

Smith also has issues when it comes to missing the next few European Tours. He is currently in the 32nd and final spot for Dortmund. But gaining all the time are Raymond van Barneveld, Matt Campbell and Joe Cullen. Rob Cross is also just outside the spots too and Ritchie Edhouse is far from safe. So there could be a position where as well as Smith, we have a former European Champion in Cross as well as a current champion in Edhouse missing the cut.

Albeit it is likely that he is dealing with his ongoing injury travails with arthritis in his throwing hand as well as a shoulder injury blighting the St Helens ace since his downturn in form. He promised to return to his best quickly but that has yet to transpire.

"I broke both my wrists when I was 19 and now it's catching up with me and now suffering with arthritis to my right hand," said Smith after the World Masters in January. "This isn't sympathy or a cry for help. This is letting you all in to it. I've never given up or stopped from any pain."

"I see the specialist Monday and when I know, you will know, what will happen over the next month or so," he said. "I'll never let anything beat me and I promise I'll be back very, very quickly."