Smith praises Van Gerwen following Premier League heartbreak: "Michael was the better player in the end"

Michael Smith couldn't repeat his World Darts Championship success on Premier League Darts finals night, losing 10-8 in the semi-final to Michael van Gerwen. Following the match, Smith was full of praise for his opponent.

Understandably, Smith was incredibly disappointed at missing out on a Premier League win. "It's terrible to lose. My scoring disappeared too quickly and then I struggled to get it back consistently," 'Bully Boy' said. "Michael was the better player in the end."

Despite a brilliant campaign that saw Smith finish third in the league and take three successive night wins, the 2023 campaign will now be tinged with disappointment when looking back. "This is not how I wanted my Premier League season to end, but I am putting this behind me and already looking forward to the next tournaments," concluded the World Champion.