Michael Smith owes everything to Grand Slam of Darts: ''I don’t even think I would have had darts to win the World Championship without that''

Michael Smith returns this weekend to the place where he added a new chapter to his career last year. After eight lost major finals, 'Bullyboy' finally managed to take his major title at the Grand Slam of Darts in 2022.

It proved to be the prelude to more. The gate was opened and barely two months later Smith crowned himself world champion by defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final.

“I think I owe everything to the Grand Slam,'' Smith reflected on these successes in conversation with the PDC. ''I don’t even think I would have had darts to win the World Championship without that Grand Slam win last year. I had been in eight major finals before the Grand Slam, but I managed to get over the line and that gave me the confidence to go one step further [at Alexandra Palace].”

The Grand Slam of Darts is a tournament Smith has fond memories of anyway. In his previous nine appearances, he only failed to reach the group stage the first time. In the last four editions, Smith reached at least the quarterfinals.

“Over the last five or six years the Grand Slam has been very kind to me," Smith acknowledged. ''I think I’ve gone unbeaten in the group in the last five years, but I’ve probably jinxed that now! I’m really looking forward to getting back there. Hopefully, I can deliver again this year and go back-to-back.”

After capturing the world title, the season was otherwise unspectacular. Smith won one World Series title, one Euro Tour tournament and one Players Championship title. In the Premier League Darts and the World Grand Prix, he reached the semifinals.

''2023 has been the best year of my life so far,” said the Englishman. ''I believe it will happen again [becoming World Champion] but if it didn’t, I didn’t want to look back with regrets, so I’ve just chosen to enjoy being the World Champion and world number one."

"I’ve not been anywhere near my best this year, but I’ve still made quarter-finals and semi-finals in most of the TV events, and now I know when I am in that position again, I’ve got to work even harder. I feel like it's coming now. Every year I seem to have a poor run between August and September, and then I seem to come back into my own at the start of November. I think I proved that the Grand Slam win [last year] wasn’t a one-hit wonder after winning the World Championship, but it would mean everything to retain my title this year.”