RELIEF FOR BULLY BOY! Michael Smith battles back from 2-1 down to beat Kevin Doets 3-2! Listen to that roar from the reigning champ after the winning dart! 📺 bit.ly/24WCLive #WCDarts | R2
"People were saying he wasn't playing well enough to retain it. That is playing well enough" - Wayne Mardle believes Michael Smith will have silenced some doubters with epic opening round win
PDCSaturday, 16 December 2023 at 13:00
The 2024 World Darts Championship is underway and despite surviving a scare in his opening tie against Kevin Doets, Michael Smith got the defence of his crown off to a winning start.
One person in particular who was impressed by the performance of Smith, was ex-pro turned analyst, Wayne Mardle. "Since being world champ things haven't gone his way, he hasn't played that great, but now he's on the stage of his greatest victory playing like that, he's a runner again. He's got a bona fide chance again," insists Hawaii 501.
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Taken to a deciding set by the Dutch debutant, Smith needed all of his experience to survive with his World Championship hopes still in tact. A quiet year since becoming world champion had led some to doubt Smith, according to Mardle however, no one should be doubting after that performance.
"People were saying he wasn't playing well enough to retain it. That is playing well enough. If he plays like that for the duration, that is Championship winning form. 100+ average, pushed to the absolute hilt by someone who's world class, that was a brilliant performance," Mardle explains. "Michael Smith dealt with everything there when the pressure was on. This was his opening game, he's never been reigning champion before, so returning to do that, I'm in awe of him!"
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- I might actually enter this next year,for £5 and an egg cup! It's a disgrace considering the previous champions. I won't be watching,and I doubt many others will either. Taylor, Barney, Burnett, Hankey, Wolfie,you'd win this with your eyes closedrick6705-11-2024
- Shame that Beau has got Noppert first, he is less likely to fold, Schindler or Menzies may well of. Still think she can win the group, even if not can still qualify for the knockout stages.Mysstree05-11-2024
- I agree with the other posts here. Cameron Menzies did absolutely nothing wrong... he showed some passion-being a human - which is good to see. The last thing we want is grey/woke robot players who are far too afraid to show any emotions whatsoever. Woke is killing most sports and is having far-reaching consequences - in general.MrYnyslas197105-11-2024
- I don't actually see the problem,he was insulting only to himself,as a reaction to his victory. I don't think anyone else was affected,so what's the issue?rick6704-11-2024
- Covid or Vaccine victim?Mysstree03-11-2024