SMITH DOESN’T WANT REIGN TO END
11/12/2023 By Phil Lanning
MICHAEL SMITH admits that it was the 90 SECONDS that changed his life forever.
The St.Helens star knows the perfect leg against Michael van Gerwen will go down in history forever.
He said: “The people I had looked up to and had followed on social media were now following me back and sending messages congratulating me.
“It was unreal, a dream come true, and it only took that one leg – about 90 seconds – and it has helped change the sport.
“I cannot wait to get to Ally Pally now, because I will finally see myself holding that trophy on the champions wall.
“If I am struggling, I can just look up and see it. I think that is going to give me the inspiration that I need.
“I’ll be very proud when John McDonald announces me as the reigning and defending champion, but I’ll also be sad as well, because I don’t want it to end.
“I’m not quite ready to be called the former World Champion yet!”
Smith will face either Kevin Doets or Grand Slam quarter-finalist Stowe Buntz in his opening tie on Friday night. He admits he has been below par in recent times but aims to put it right.
He added: “Something has been missing on stage, but there’s no better place to find it than at the World Championship.
“I know what it takes to win it now, and I know I can bring my A-game. To become only the fourth player to go back-to-back would be amazing.
“I don’t want to be a one-time World Champion, and I want to win even more titles than Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis.
“When you retire, people can sometimes forget that you’ve won it, but when you’ve won it multiple times, you leave a legacy behind, and that is what I want to leave now.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
