The Sad Story Of Michael Smith Explained In 10 Minutes

On 3 January 2023 Michael Smith hit a nine-dart finish in the World Championship final, beat Michael van Gerwen 7-4 and became world number one for the first time in his career. It was the greatest night of his life. Two years later he missed the World Matchplay for the first time in twelve years. His ranking had dropped to 21st. He lost in the second round of the next World Championship. This is the downfall of Bully Boy. Michael Smith was born 18 September 1990 in St Helens — a working class town in Merseyside where rugby league and pub darts shaped the local culture. The nickname Bully Boy stuck from his days in the St Helens youth leagues. Unlike the teenage prodigies who leap straight to stardom Smith's progress came through the PDC pathway — years of qualifiers, small stage matches and a slow accumulation of ranking points. By 2019 he had reached the World Championship final for the first time. Van Gerwen beat him 7-3. In 2022 he reached the final again. Peter Wright beat him 7-5. Two finals lost. The nearly man who could reach the summit but couldn't stay on it. 3 January 2023 — Alexandra Palace packed to the rafters. Smith versus Van Gerwen. The second set — Van Gerwen missed his own nine-darter. Then Smith stepped up. Nine darts. No mistakes. The first perfect leg in a World Championship final since 2011. The eruption inside Ally Pally was instant. Smith averaged 103.09 across the match, Van Gerwen 102.09 — one of the highest quality finals ever played. By the eleventh set the title was within reach. Double eight. Clean. 7-4. Smith pointed to his chest. World champion. World number one. For a few perfect hours he stood at the very summit of his sport. Then the cracks appeared. Deep runs in major tournaments became rare. Months without a ranking title. An eleven-month drought broken only at Players Championship 9 in Hildesheim in May 2024 — averaging 92.34, a long way from 103 in a World Championship final. From world number one at the start of 2023 to 21st by late 2024. Losing the automatic invitations that a reigning world champion had always walked through. Behind the numbers was a physical story Smith himself addressed publicly. He used to practice four or five hours straight without stopping. By 2024 he was limited to twenty-minute sessions interrupted by the need to rest — taking a lot of painkillers just to get through them. A player whose preparation had always been relentless now competing at the highest level with a body that no longer allowed the same pursuit. The hours lost in practice could not be reclaimed on stage. December 2023 — Kevin Doets, world number 66, nearly knocked Smith out in the second round of the World Championship. Smith survived 3-2. December 2024 — Doets again. This time Smith buckled — losing 3-2 in a final-set tiebreak, dropping out of the top 16, losing automatic entry to the sport's biggest events. Forced to qualify for the World Matchplay — lost to Thibault Tricole in the first round. Missed the Matchplay for the first time in twelve years. April 2026 — Players Championship 11 at Arena MK. Smith reached the final. Beau Greaves beat him 8-7 with a 142 checkout — becoming the first woman ever to win a PDC ranking title. The 2023 world champion standing as the benchmark for a new era. Nine-dart finish. World number one. Then this. #darts #dart #dartswc #michaelsmith