Michael Smith

Michael Smith won his first PDC World Championship title after beating Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in the final at Alexandra Palace.

There were fears it might go the other way after Van Gerwen took the opening set against the throw, but those were quickly washed away after one of the greatest legs in the tournament's history in the second set. He became just the second player to hit a nine-darter in the World Championship final and the first since Adrian Lewis in 2011 as he took his place in the history books. Smith fired a stunning nine-dart finish in one of the greatest legs in the history of the World Championship during the early stages of the final with van Gerwen.

Greatest leg of darts, ever!? Smith struck a perfect nine-dart leg in the world championship final with Van Gerwen missing double 12 for perfection in the very ...

[Download the Sky Sports App](https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ContentPromo) But it was Van Gerwen who made it 2-2 after sinking 83 for a whitewash set. The start was everything a packed Ally Pally could have wished for with both players going at it hammer and tongs. "It sounds amazing, but I don't want to start getting into the crying and emotions," said Smith. Mardle goes berserk after Smith nine-darter](https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12779348/i-cant-speak-i-cant-speak-wayne-mardle-goes-berserk-after-michael-smith-nine-darter) Darts biggest party is back as the Premier League roadshow heads to a venue near you!

Michael van Gerwen erred with his own attempt at a perfect leg before Smith hit double 12 to spark wild scenes.

Follow Sportsmail's live blog for the World Darts Championship final between England's Michael Smith and Holland's Michael van Gerwen.

The Dutchman was not distracted from his game, taking the win 6-0. 1 if he beats Smith in the final. Quite evenly matched across the board, van Gerwen with a higher average and checkout percentage, but Smith nailing more 180s and 100+ finishes.

Michael Smith said 'this feeling will never be topped' after he beat Michael van Gerwen 7-4 to win his first PDC World Darts Championship.

It was a moment of darting history, but Smith wanted the bigger prize. But he found a burst of energy and won three consecutive legs, including an 11-darter to win the trophy 7-4 and the £500,000 top prize. After trailing 3-2 in sets he reeled off four in a row in the blink of an eye to go within one of destiny. That left some wondering if it was finally his time to win the big one: and he duly delivered here in a final which featured the greatest leg of darts the world will ever see. Ignore their pre-tournament world rankings of four and three respectively: this was a meeting of the two finest tungsten technicians. “This feeling will never be topped,” the newest champion of the world admitted after a moment he may have thought would never arrive.

The 2023 World Darts Championship came to its conclusion on Tuesday night at the Alexandra Palace in London, with a heavyweight matchup between Michael ...

It’s only the second nine-darter in World Championship Final history (Adrian Lewis, 2011) and showed the level both of these men are at, battling not just for the world title but also the No. He missed just high, giving Smith the stage for the chance at the same, and Smith didn’t miss, finding T20, T19, and D12 to send the Ally Pally (and Wayne Mardle on commentary) into absolute pandemonium. The two are both capable of producing showstopping darts and it didn’t take long for the fireworks to begin.

Michael Smith of England celebrates victory during his match against Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images. If you're reading ...

This is the final of the 96-player tournament that is the 2022/23 PDC World Championship. And when it happens at the PDC World Championships in the final, it’s unforgettable. If you’re reading this in the USA, odds are you don’t know anything about professional darts.

Michael Smith has been crowned World Darts champion after defeating Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in one of the sport's most remarkable matches at the Alexander ...

Both Smith and Van Gerwen had no doubt proven to be arguably the most impressive and consistent players in 2022, and this was showing in this year's final. In the midst of the chaos, Smith had importantly levelled the match at 1-1 but now needed to recompose himself. And to the delight of the roaring crowd, 'Bully Boy' went one better than his opponent and landed the finish to take the roof off the London-based arena. Like his opponent he nailed in his opening two darts to leave him a throw at double 12 for the nine-dart finish. Van Gerwen kicked things off as he rattled in yet another 180 to set off a hunt for a nine-dart finish. Smith headed into the clash as underdog, but capped off a quite remarkable season by finally getting over the line on the biggest stage of all at the third time of asking.

Michael Smith said his stunning nine-dart finish in the World Championship final gave him belief he could beat Michael van Gerwen and claim a first title.

Michael Smith said his stunning nine-dart finish in the World Championship final gave him belief he could beat Michael van Gerwen and claim a first title.

Michael Smith fired a stunning nine-dart finish on his way to winning the World Championship for the first time after a brilliant victory over Michael van ...

Smith nailed a nine-darter after World Darts Championship final opponent Michael van Gerwen missed the opportunity to seal his own.

Several others also called for darts to be "put in the Olympics". Mardle had been so enthusiastic in his commentary that he was forced to leave the booth having lost his voice. Michael Smith pulled off an astonishing nine darter as he and Michael van Gerwen played out what is already being called "the best leg of all time". Van Gerwen added two more treble 20s and a treble 19 to keep his hopes of a world final nine-darter alive. Many fans also pointed out that the moment had also been captured perfectly by the Sky Sports commentators, with Wayne Mardle in particular being praised. Most fans concurred, including former Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster who replied: "The best one minute and 34 seconds of content you'll ever watch."

Michael van Gerwin was full of praise for Michael Smith after a sensational World Darts Championship final which saw the Englishman triumph.

“Of course, I didn’t take my chances, but he was there at the moments he had to be. But he knows himself and I do, it’s not going to be the last time here that me and Michael play each other,” Smith said. I can’t speak!”

New world No 1 Michael Smith has set his sights on dominating darts after following his Grand Slam of Darts victory with an elusive maiden World Darts ...

"I had two darts in the second set, when he [Smith] threw the nine-darter," Van Gerwen added. "Of course, I didn't take my chances, but he was there at the moments he had to be. Watch Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen both in action at the 2023 Cazoo Premier League darts, exclusively live on Sky Sports. I have said it for years, he is the best player in darts and we have got to take our chances and I finally took it." "The two greatest moments in my life are sat over there, both my kids, but if I didn't have kids that would be!" "I thought [we would] give the crowd what they deserve and they got a magical night," Smith told Sky Sports.

The Morning Sports Briefing: Keep ahead of the game with 'The Irish Times' sports team.

Gordon D’Arcy explains in his column this morning [why discipline is king for any team that wants to reign supreme](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/01/04/gordon-darcy-discipline-is-king-for-any-team-that-wants-to-reign-supreme/). There’s also some bad injury news for Munster with South African lock [RG Snyman set to remain out until springtime](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/01/03/munsters-rg-snyman-ruled-out-of-action-until-springtime-with-injury/). [3-0 home victory over Bournemouth](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/01/03/marcus-rashford-caps-manchester-uniteds-stroll-against-bournemouth/). Newcastle put on a masterclass in frustration against a toothless Arsenal, [holding the league leaders to a goalless draw](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/01/03/arsenal-and-mikel-arteta-frustrated-by-newcastles-defensive-masterclass/), while young Irish striker [Evan Ferguson scored on his first Premier League start](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/01/03/evan-ferguson-scores-and-assists-on-first-premier-league-start-as-brighton-thrash-everton/) in Brighton’s 4-1 win over Everton. In taking his maiden title at the third attempt he also became world number one and gained revenge for the 2019 final defeat to Van Gerwen. [Johnny Sexton is a doubt for the Six Nations](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2023/01/04/leinster-remain-coy-on-extent-of-johnny-sextons-facial-injury/) after Leinster confirmed he was due to undergo a procedure on an injured cheekbone.

Smith became just the second player to hit a nine-dart finish in a World Championship final, after Adrian Lewis in 2011. "My two best achievements are sat over ...

I got a magical nine and it was good," Smith said. "He played really well. The outcome was almost a complete reversal of the 2019 final when van Gerwen breezed past Smith to win his last World Championship crown with a 7-3 victory.

Newly crowned world darts champion Michael Smith confessed that he stared at the Sid Waddell trophy 'for seven hours' during a sleepless night in his hotel ...

We've worked so hard for this and to finally get it is amazing. It's hard to sum it up in words,' he continued. It'll be sleeping in the big bed with me now!'

Michael Smith pulled off a feat only season once before in the history of the World Darts Championship. Read more here.

The 32-year-old became the world champion for the first time after he beat Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in arguably the greatest final ever on Tuesday.

Michael Smith embraced his wife and kids in emotional scenes after his magical World Darts Championship title triumph - but had previously banned them for ...

They then came down for the final. [An inspired Smith won the greatest darts leg ever seen](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/michael-smith-world-darts-championship-28868097) in set three as he nailed an unforgettable nine-darter just after Van Gerwen had agonisingly wired D12 on his own attempt. If I didn’t have kids that would be it. They will be back tomorrow though." "They were banned for semis because every time I made the semis [and they were there] I got beat," he said at the time. And Smith revealed after sealing his first major title at the Grand Slam of Darts in November that he was close to kicking his wife and two sons out of the arena in Wolverhampton as they were too distracting.

Michael Smith was crowned PDC World Champion for the first time last night after thumping favourite Michael van Gerwen in a thrilling family, with his wife ...

"They were banned for semis because every time I made the semis [and they were there] I got beat," he said at the time. "They then came down for the final. They will be back tomorrow though." [considered kicking his family out of the arena](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/darts/michael-smith-grand-slam-darts-28547263) as he was finding their presence distracting. "They came yesterday and it put me off," he told Sky Sports on Monday. [7-4 victory](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/darts/breaking-michael-smith-van-gerwen-28868655), Smith shook Van Gerwen's hand before taking off down the stage to [celebrate with his family](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/darts/michael-smith-van-gerwen-darts-28868891), who had been cheering him on from the front row all night.

Seven of the previous 13 nine-darters in PDC World Darts Championship history had proved to be in vain, including Gerwyn Price's moment of magic against Bully ...

I have to take it on the chin.” “It wasn’t what I wanted it to be, but that’s part of the game and you have to take it on the chin. I am here to play and try my best to win the World Championship.” “I lost the first set on my darts and I was like, ‘Is it going to happen again?’. “I have finally done it, all that heartache I have been through and finally I have been able to lift the trophy and put the star on the shirt that I know I have worked hard for. The new world number one also became just the second player to hit a nine-darter in the World Championship final and the first since Adrian Lewis in 2011.

As Michael Smith hit double eight to become the world champion, he put his hands behind his head in disbelief while Alexandra Palace erupted behind him.

Smith also became the number one ranked darts player in the world with the victory, the first time he has managed to do so. [darts](https://givemesport.com/darts) news and rumours right here. Momentum is on his side, but we will have to wait and see. “As a sporting memory it’s the greatest ever, and I don’t think that will ever be topped. Before last year, Smith had not yet won a major final despite reaching eight since 2018. “They never come early on in the tournament so they were banned today.

Smith was inconsolable 12 months ago when he appeared to be within touching distance of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy with a 5-4 lead and had the darts at 2-0 ...

Darts ace Michael Smith wants to celebrate his World Darts Championship success by having a trophy team photo with his beloved rugby league club, St Helens. The St Helens-born man followed up his Grand Slam of Darts win in November with an impressive ...

New world No 1 Michael Smith has described himself as the “Andy Murray of darts” after ending his run of major near-misses to claim a long-awaited maiden ...

Luckily enough it went in and the rest was history." For it to be in the perfect leg as well, with 17 perfect darts, was unreal - a great feeling. "When I watched that and he [Mardle] was banging on the table, that made it more special. Back in the day it was Phil Taylor and someone who pushed him. I know he got to world No 1 and then unluckily for him he had his injuries, although it didn't cost him his career as he's still playing now. "I'm like the Andy Murray of darts!"

World champion and new world No 1 leads a top 16 which now contains just three players over the age of 40.

The newest king of the oche now also has the opportunity to spearhead a new era. Callan Rydz made the quarter-finals last year at the age of 23, while the 20-year-olds Keane Barry and Lewy Williams are capable of bright futures. That has changed and the new world No 1’s story of never giving up will serve as an inspiration to many. “You have to keep persisting with it, the amount of heartache you might get. There is a saying in Michael Smith’s home town that you should never write off a Saint, owing largely to the success of his beloved St Helens rugby league club. Smith now has his second major, one he felt it was his destiny to win since he took up darts as a boy.

Anyone who has ever played a game of Cricket at the local watering hole is familiar with the high of hitting a few perfect throws in a row.

1 player in the sport. That is exactly what happened on Tuesday when Michael Van Gerwen and Michael Smith faced off in the Cazoo World Darts Championship. For those who may be more familiar with Cricket at the bar than professional darts.