01/07/2023

New Zealand’s Shot Darts hits bullseye with World Champion Michael Smith Sponsorship

Kiwi company Shot Darts is thrilled to announce the signing of world number one and reigning PDC World Champion Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith. Shot Darts is over the moon to announce the signing of the Current Darts World Champion, Michael Smith. The deal sees an exclusive signature darts range launched for ‘Bully Boy’ later in July, which has been 100% designed and manufactured in the Shot factory in Katikati, New Zealand.

Ranked number one in the world, Michael Smith’s ultimate darts playing dream came true after years of hard graft, grit and grassroots support.

Smith made global headlines when he captured the world title, highlighted by his nine-darter in the World Championship final, which has been viewed more than 25 million times on Twitter. The winner of 16 PDC ranking events, Smith has held two World Series titles, including the 2022 US Darts Masters. But his biggest win came with the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship, and his textbook nine-darter triumph. ‘Bully Boy’ completed the perfect leg, sending Alexandra Palace fans, Sky Sports commentators, and millions of viewers around the world into a frenzy.

Michael Smith leaves darts manufacturer Unicorn after ten years

In the business of darts since 1970, sponsoring a pro player of Michael’s caliber and showcasing their dart designs for his new range is the Kiwi darts company’s ultimate dream come true. This is a pivotal moment for Shot, which is proud to stand alongside Michael with every throw from here on in.

To co-create this exclusive dart range for the world’s best-of-the-best dart player took an intensive collab between Michael and Shot’s ‘dartisans’, with a rigorous design process. The result is technical perfection and a glimpse behind the scenes of the gear Michael Smith swears by to give him the edge. With this new series, Shot’s technical excellence paired with Michael’s unflagging ‘come at me’ attitude, will thrill players worldwide.

Michael Smith responds to departure from Unicorn: "We leave on the best terms possible"

Shot Darts Managing Director Peter McCormick is thrilled to have Smith as the newest member of the Shot Pro family and envisions massive things for the partnership. “Like Shot, Michael’s never forgotten his grassroots and family connections. We chose Michael not just because of his success, but because we share the same values – that family is everything, grit and tenacity always pay off, and there’s no substitute for experience.”

“The sponsorship reflects our global plans for growth – particularly in the UK, and cements Shot at the top of darts worldwide,” says McCormick.

World Champion Michael Smith adds “I am over the moon to have signed with Shot Darts. From our very first meeting everything felt like a perfect fit. It always means a lot knowing you have a great team behind you, and I am really looking forward to working with everyone from this point. The standard of all the equipment produced by them has really impressed me and I cannot wait to see what is released going forward. The aim now is to try and win more PDC Majors and form a very successful partnership”.