Smith values good bond with Van Gerwen: ''After a final we don't like each other for 15 minutes, then we drink a pint''

After two World Championship finals defeats, Michael Smith finally captured his first world title in January 2023. 'Bullyboy' did so beating Michael van Gerwen 7-4, after he managed to throw a sensational nine darter during the final following Van Gerwen himself had missed the double 12 for a perfect leg.

The two generational rivals have a long history together. They arrived on the PDC circuit at around the same time and have met on the PDC youth circuit, and later in major televised finals. They both possess enormous natural talent, but in terms of character Smith and Van Gerwen are miles apart.

''I'm not a different person on that stage, just as being world champion doesn't change me. I have a fast car and a nice watch, but I will never look down on anyone. I just talk to you the same as I talk to a homeless person. My children will not see me suddenly become arrogant either. What people see is just me. I don't have to act. I think during that World Championship final against Michael, ninety percent wanted to see me win that final. They had seen me go through losing nine major finals (including two World Championship finals, ed.) and seen my kids cry about it. The fans never really chanted my name until that final,'' Smith said in a wide-ranging interview with de Telegraaf.

The newspaper asked Smith to describe Van Gerwen's character. ''Michael is loud,'' he laughed. ''Ask him who is the best and he will also say: me, there is nobody better than me. When you first meet him, he will test how far he can go with you. Then you actually have to say: one more word and then I'll put this (shows his fist, ed.) in your mouth. But he is a completely different person outside of darts. We both come from nothing. If you asked him for anything now, he would give you everything. The fact that he has shed tears on stage at times also shows that he is not a robot. He has a big heart. People may or may not like him, but if you get to know him, you will always like him.''

The world's numbers one and three players nurture a good relationship together. Van Gerwen regularly praises his English rival. ''As will I always speak highly of him,'' Smith responded. ''I've been in darts with him since I was 17 and will be until maybe we're 45 or 50. When I lost my first World Championship final to him in 2019, I said to him, 'Listen, mate, there are going to be so many big finals that we're going to play together. We're going to be the two best players in the world.' We have to get used to that. After a final we may not see each other for 15 minutes and then we drink a pint together. That's how it has to be,'' said the reigning world champion.