SMITH FORM SPARKS QUESTIONS OVER FUTURE
10/09/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL SMITH has been tipped for a shock slide out of the world’s top 32 as pundits questioned whether his career is already “over” at the oche.
‘Bully Boy’ suffered his ELEVENTH first-round exit at a Players Championship tournament this year, going down 6-1 to Michael Unterbuchner in Event 26 with an 88.34 average.
Two-time major winner Smith was knocked out at the first hurdle of the Flanders Darts Trophy two weeks ago, falling to host nation qualifier Mario Vandenbogaerde.
Former pro Andy Cornwall has questioned Smith’s future in the sport.
He said on the Mission Darts Podcast: “Michael Smith, is it over?
“I mean, is his career over? He was awful. Is he out the top 32 in the next 12 months?
“I mean, what on earth?”
Pundit Matt Edgar insists it’s not just Smith in danger of collapsing down the rankings — with other big names also at risk.
He revealed: “We’ve got a lot of change. Michael Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Peter Wright, Joe Cullen.
“I think they’re four people that will be outside the top 32 in no time.”
Cornwall added that Smith’s potential downfall would be more shocking given he is only 34 and already bagged multiple TV titles.
He added: “Well, there’s a couple of young lads there.
“You know, we’re not talking about season pros that, you know, we’re not talking about a Mensur Suljović, a Simon Whitlock, a Steve Beaton, who’ve fallen from grace gracefully.
“These are young lads. We’re talking about world champions. We’re talking about major champions in their 20s and 30s, potentially disappearing. And Michael Smith’s the one for me.”
St Helens thrower Smith lost his place in this year’s Premier League, while he has also fallen out of the world’s top 20.
The former World Champion is on course to finish the year without a title for the first time since 2019.
Smith faces the real prospect of sitting out both the World Grand Prix and European Championship, with injuries and illness wrecking his campaign.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
