SMITH FIRES BACK AT CRITICS AFTER NIGHTMARE RUN
14/10/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL SMITH has fired back at ex-pros who claim he’s “gone” and insists he’s far from done despite a tough run of form and ongoing injury problems.
‘Bully Boy’ has endured a torrid campaign after falling out of the world’s top 20 and missing out on the Premier League.
Former World Champ Smith has also suffered FOURTEEN first-round exits on the ProTour this season and is on course to finish the year without a title for the first time since 2019.
St Helens thrower Smith last played at the Players Championship 28-30 events but progressed into the second round on just one occasion.
But Smith says he still has plenty of fight left and hit back at those writing him off.
He told Darts Corner: “I didn’t have the greatest results but if you saw my games I had a couple of 96 averages and a 101 average.
“Even one of the matches I lost with a 96 I had a first-nine average of 124.
“So, it’s just the winning bit now that is doing my head in.
“For me now it is about getting to the World Championships.
“All I have to do is win three or four games and then I am back in the top 10.
“For me it’s just get there, get myself back on TV, get back playing well — because I know I will do it.
“You have some ex-pros saying I’m gone, but they’ve tried it and quit and become commentators.
“I am only 35, so I’ve got plenty of time to fight back.”
Two-time major winner Smith revealed he’s been playing through pain all year, battling wrist, shoulder and foot injuries.
He added: “I’ve always had it with my wrists, but I think since I won the Worlds my body has said, ‘You’ve done it now — just give up fighting the pain in your hand.’
“Then I had a few drinks on Christmas Day and fell off my kid’s scooter, and I did my shoulder in.
“I just thought I had a grade two on my AC joint. I found out I have severe osteoarthritis in my shoulder as well.
“So, I have my right shoulder, right wrist and my left foot.
“It’s not felt the greatest having steroid injections every three months and living off painkillers every day.
“Now that I’m getting the hunger back for this, it’s still sore — but I’m just putting it to the back of my mind like I once did before the Worlds.
“But it is not the greatest thing to have.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
