Michael Smith itching for World Darts Championship success: "I've been here since I was 20, I want to actually win this event now"

Michael Smith produced a stunning 106 average at the PDC World Darts Championship to ease past Ron Meulenkamp and despite being a statement on the board, he is not getting carried away.

"This is more of a statement for me after the last two years playing bad here and I just wanted to get that win and have a decent Christmas. It's been a while so getting that win is more important, there's no statement no nothing. I'm not saying I'm going to win it, I'm going to smash this person. As long as I win and do my own thing, I'm happy.

Last game won was the semi-final for Smith in the year he reached the final and it is something he wants to move past now.

"Things like that do hurt and it's been more getting over them. It's like you can't dwell on the past, there's a past for a reason and keep looking forward."

He also discussed his change in mindset and how he is itching for success now which hasn't come for him yet.

"I had three years where I didn't win anything from 2015-2018. I finally won a tournament and then I made two or three TV finals and then I had a year without winning anything again and then finally I won. Everything I did in my ranking, I was in the top ten by floor events. I was getting beat first round on TV, I started making Quarter's, Semi's and Finals, it was like you've got to put them both together now and I have done the last couple of months."

"This is my 11th World Championship. I've been here since I was 20. I want to push on, I want to actually win this event now. If I win this, I'll be done by 40 and then I'm happy but if I don't win now, it'll be about 104 now on the stage before I win."