'Bully Boy' ready to mix it with darts elite in the capital on May 17 - live on Sky Sports
Friday 4 May 2018 19:58, UK
Michael Smith has recalled the moment he became World Youth Champion at The O2 on the same night Michael van Gerwen won his very first Premier League title.
Smith ensured his place at finals night after he earned a point in a hard-fought draw with Daryl Gurney in Birmingham on Thursday night.
Smith, who needed just three legs to ensure his place at The O2, had to withstand a barrage of six 180s from Gurney, and was under serious pressure when he trailed 6-5 going into the final leg of the match, but the St Helens thrower held his nerve to deny the Northern Irishman a crucial two points by taking out 81 on the bull.
The 27-year-old from will now prepare for finals night in London on May 17 with happy memories of beating Ricky Evans 6-1 to win the World Youth Championship in front of a sell-out crowd at the venue six years ago.
In that time, Van Gerwen has scooped the title every single year, but now Smith is ready to bully the best in the business and claim the biggest title of his career.
"It's actually going to be my second time playing at The O2 because I've played there at the Youth Worlds and that was the year when Van Gerwen won his first Premier League title against Phil Taylor," Smith told Sky Sports.
"The experience was loud and it was even better when I sat backstage and saw Michael checkout 132 on the bull to beat Taylor for his first Premier League title. I was sat there watching it and now I could be there winning it, so we'll see what happens."
Smith made his debut in the Premier League after receiving a wildcard in 2016, but a disastrous campaign ended with a sobering experience after finishing bottom of the table.
But 'Bully Boy' says he used the time out to make himself an even stronger person and he has now returned with the intention of walking away from the venue as Premier League champion.
I'm sick of being second or third best - I want to be the best in the business, and that's what I'm striving for, to be the best player in the world.
"I've had to learn from my mistakes because if I hadn't had come back in and produced the goods then I wouldn't have been in this event again," admitted Smith.
"I'm sick of being second or third best - I want to be the best in the business, and that's what I'm striving for, to be the best player in the world.
"I won't be happy coming second. Eric Bristow said 'If you come second, don't bother talking to me'. No one ever remembers the person who finishes second, they only remember the winner.
"I'm getting fed up of that now over the years of getting the last 16, or the last eight, or whatever. I want to be doing what Michael van Gerwen is doing and that's winning tournaments and doing what he does.
"I'd like to learn from Van Gerwen's winning ways and his winning mentality. He does have a perfect brain for this game, a perfect mentality as well, and that's what I'm trying to develop now."
Michael Smith was speaking to Sky Sports' Raz Mirza at Arena Birmingham. The 2018 Premier League is back for the final league night next Thursday as we head to Aberdeen for Week 15. Coverage gets underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action. The tungsten action will then continue through to the season's conclusion with the Play-Offs on Thursday, May 17 at The O2 in London.
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