DRAW BRACKET 🔢 Here's how the draw bracket shapes up for the 2023 @PalmerbetAU New South Wales Darts Masters... Who will be crowned champion of our final event of the year Down Under?
"I’m trying too hard to play like a World Champion and a world number one": Michael Smith struggling with new found status
PDCFriday, 11 August 2023 at 08:00
Michael Smith had a rough start at the New Zealand Darts Masters last week with 6-5 victories over Darren Penhall and Damon Heta.
In the semifinal match, the world number one played a lot better. Still, despite an average of 107, he lost 7-3 to Nathan Aspinall, who in turn recorded a moyenne of 110 per turn. Smith hopes to win a World Series tournament for the fourth time in his career this weekend in Australia.
“I’m trying too hard to play like a World Champion and a world number one,” conceded Smith, a winner at the inaugural Bahrain Darts Masters in January. “I’m putting too much pressure on myself, but I’ve never had to experience anything like this before.
With a title in Australia, Smith could work confidently toward the important part of the season with all the major television tournaments.
“It’s a learning curve, it’s a new experience, but I know I’ll get over it. I know I can win these events, I’ve won three of them before and I know what I can do," he concluded. “I’m always looking forward to playing darts. As long as I’m confident and I’m in a good place, I believe I can win anything.”
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- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- They really are going through an insipid spell - at present.MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
- There are 30 Players Championship rounds to play first throughout the year and you have to be in the top 64 to get to the finals. This is probably the hardest Major to win as its the top 128 players at each event or the top ranked Challenge Tour players if any tour card holders drop out.Mysstree20-11-2024