"Should've been a boxer, knocked one man out of two tournaments": Mickey Mansell playfully responds after Michael Smith jibe

Tensions between Michael Smith and Mickey Mansell escalated on Wednesday during a Euro Tour qualifying event in Hildesheim. What began as a sporting battle for a coveted ticket to the first Euro Tour tournament of 2026 spilled over into a heated exchange on social media. The aftermath underscores the depth of Smith’s frustration, as he has struggled with form and injuries since his 2023 world title.

Smith and Mansell faced off in one of ten decisive qualifiers. The objective was clear: a place at the first Euro Tour event of the new season. For both players, qualification is no longer a given. Smith is currently world number 32, while Mansell sits at 47. That means they must come through these qualifiers and are not automatically assured of participation.

In Hildesheim, Mansell came out on top. The Northern Irishman averaged 83.07 and beat Smith 6-3. Smith averaged 82.89 and was unable to put his opponent under sustained pressure in the closing stages.

The numbers show it was not a high-quality match, but it was a contest where efficiency proved decisive. Mansell was sharper on his doubles at the key moments and made the most of the missed chances by his English opponent.

It didn’t end with a sporting handshake. Smith, visibly frustrated, voiced his displeasure on Facebook in a post that has since been deleted. In it, he launched a strong attack on Mansell’s playing style. The former world champion suggested the Northern Irishman deliberately slowed the game by lingering at the oche to stare at the board after his throws.

"Imagine doing that to win a game. Tinkerbell won’t come along and move your darts for you. No need stand looking at the board for 15 seconds. Horrible mentality. And horrible player," wrote Smith on his Facebook page.

With those words, he set the tone for a heated aftermath. In professional darts, playing tempo is a recurring topic, but it is rarely challenged this publicly and personally as it was here.

Mansell did not leave the attack unanswered. When Smith later in the day withdrew from the second Euro Tour qualifier due to a foot injury, the Northern Irishman seized the chance to strike back playfully. "Should've been a boxer, knocked one man out of two tournaments," Mansell wrote on social media.

The remark triggered more reactions, including from Dagmara Smith, Michael Smith’s wife. She joined the discussion with a jab at Mansell, saying he would be “too slow” for that. "No you shouldn't, your moves are two slow for that," she wrote. The sporting contest thus took on a personal edge that is rarely played out so openly in darts.

Smith’s outburst must also be viewed in the context of his sporting situation. Since his 2023 world title, the Englishman has slipped down the rankings. Injuries have played a major role. He previously dealt with wrist issues and is now also struggling with persistent foot problems.

On Instagram, Smith shared a photo in which he explained his physical condition. He also addressed the incident with Mansell. He said he finds it hard to give everything to the sport he loves and then be confronted with what he sees as frustrating tactics from opponents. "It shouldn’t bother me but it does because it makes me questions myself why do I bother to put up with the pain and suffering to please everyone else over my health," he wrote candidly.

Those words illustrate how deep Smith’s frustration runs. The combination of physical discomfort, sporting setbacks, and the weight of expectations after a world title appears to be taking its toll.

The incident in Hildesheim shows how high the stakes are during Euro Tour qualifiers. For players outside the top 16, these are crucial moments to collect prize money and ranking points. Every defeat can affect seedings and income.

Whether the row between Smith and Mansell will spill over onto the stage remains to be seen. One thing is certain: when they meet again, the match will carry more than just a sporting edge. Relations between the two appear decidedly frosty for now.