Smith reveals he was “close to retiring” before Grand Slam breakthrough

MICHAEL SMITH has revealed he was close to walking away from darts before finally ending his major final hoodoo and becoming world champion.

The St Helens thrower had suffered a string of painful defeats on the biggest stages, including losses to Michael van Gerwen in the 2019 World Championship final and Peter Wright at the 2022 tournament.

Smith, 36, eventually broke his duck by beating Nathan Aspinall 16-5 to win the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

The triumph came after eight defeats in major finals, with Bully Boy having also fallen short in showpiece matches at the Premier League, World Matchplay and UK Open.

Smith has admitted the repeated setbacks left him questioning whether he wanted to continue playing.

He said at an exhibition: “Building up I was close to retiring because I had lost to Peter Wright in the 2022 Worlds. I was just getting annoyed because obviously I lost to Michael [van Gerwen] in 2019.

“I think losing to Peter that was my seventh major [final] loss or something.

“It didn’t get any better because I think I lost the UK Open final then I lost the European final.

“Then I lost something else in the final. It was just doom or nothing. It was proper doing my head in.

“But on the floor wise I won seven ProTours, four European [Tours] so it was going right.

“Then obviously I got lucky in the Grand Slam I won my first one. The worlds at the time I knew I was the best player in the world.

“Nobody was touching me. Even though Michael [van Gerwen] was No1. In my head I still believe now even though I'm not where I should be.

“I think you saw that every game I played nobody got close to me I think.”

Smith also revealed the victory he looks back on with the greatest pride.

He added: “2013, I think it would have been, so I beat Phil Taylor and had my first win in the World Championship in my third year running.

“He was defending champion and world No.1. It got my face in the paper. I was well known then.

“It was in the same year I won the World Youth Championship at the O2. So, everything started to fall into place then, only by that one match where I beat Phil Taylor.”

In an interview with Chloe Cartlidge, Spark Sunderland.

Image: Taylor Lanning