Smith defends Sherrock after Nordic Darts Masters win: "She's not here being rubbish, she's here playing well"

Michael Smith recovered to see off Fallon Sherrock and reach the Nordic Darts Masters semi-finals as he looks for back-to-back World Series of Darts crowns.

Smith said he was ready for another lost final tweet at the US Darts Masters and getting abuse but said that soon changed to people berating him for it not being a major.

"I said to the wife after the US (Darts) Masters how many people had a tweet written out saying lost another final and I finally won it. Quick delete then it's not a major is it and that tournament last week you can ask all eight players and they will say that's the tournament they wanted to win," he said to Online Darts.

In facing Sherrock, he was taking on a player who has received criticism in recent weeks for her inclusion in these tournaments but for Smith, he sees it differently and believes her continued invites will help players like himself down the road in a commercial and financial sense.

"Fallon brings the big sponsors, all the views, she brings everything. She's not here being rubbish, she's here playing well and she's competing.

"Fair play to her, I hope she continues. Worst thing is some of the boys who aren't here are saying she shouldn't be here and if I weren't here, I'd be saying the same but she generates a lot of money. She's probably generating more than Michael and Peter for the PDC.

"As well as for the boys back home and their future. In 3-4 years time, we might be having a tour in US and Canada. She's generating that because people want to speak to her, they want her there. She probably realises it as well but she's going to make us boys a lot of money in the future."