Smith on Van Barneveld's return after Grand Slam win: "He'll probably have retired again by January"

Michael Smith saw off Raymond van Barneveld in a closely fought decider on the opening night of the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts to register an important two points.

This ahead of facing Gary Anderson on Sunday evening and he discussed a promise he made regarding Van Barneveld and how he was glad to continue it on his return.

"It's not so much Barney, it's the promise I made back in 2014 that I'd never lose to him again and when he retired, I thought that was over. Six months later, he's back. I'm just glad to get the monkey off my back now and he'll probably have retired again by January," said Smith post match.

Next up is Gary Anderson, his former mentor and for Smith, he believes a better version of The Flying Scotsman will appear.

"He's playing me of course he is, he loves to smash me off the board. He has done for the last 12 years. I'm really looking forward to it, it's going to be a high quality game."

He has also set his sights on diminishing the group of death tag once more by winning his group and has given what he'd spend his bonus on.

"Every year I get the group of death and they keep saying it and every year I've topped the group so if I can do it again now and get that nice little bonus, I've got some rubble need moving on my farm."

Smith admitted as well that he wasn't himself at the recent ProTour due to a family bereavement and he only turned up to assure himself of a spot as well as collect money from a bye.

"I didn't even want to go last weekend, my auntie had just died and I put that on social media. I went home on the second day because it was the funeral. I wasn't coming back, I got a phone call at 7, if I turn up today you've got a bye. I was like I'll come then, it's £500 for sitting there. My head was never in that weekend."