Michael Smith able to defend his World Darts Championship rating: my solely objective is to win | Darts Information

Former world champion Michael Smith heads to Alexandra Palace to defend large cash within the rankings, however insists his solely objective is to win all of it.

Smith has been inconsistent since successful his first world title in January 2023, admitting he spent a 12 months celebrating reaching his dream, with the St Helens man hitting a nine-darter en path to being topped world champion.

In Could, he then claimed his first rating title in 11 months earlier than successful the Darts World Cup alongside Luke Humphries, offering a glimpse of the sensational expertise each darts fan is aware of he possesses.

As a result of PDC's two-year Order of Advantage system, Smith wants a robust run at Worlds simply to remain within the high 10, a feat many would contemplate beneath stress, particularly as a former number one world.

Nevertheless, Smith maintains he solely has one objective: to develop into a two-time world champion and from there the rankings will deal with themselves.

But when he ever drops out of the highest 64, you received't see “BullyBoy” at Q College.

“I actually don't give it some thought, as a result of the one factor that's stressing me out now’s the questions on it. However that doesn't trouble me, as a result of I'm not going to fall out of the highest 16,” Smith stated.

“I would fall out of the highest 10 if I don't take my finger off, however which means subsequent 12 months, as a result of I've mainly taken a 12 months now, I’ve nothing to defend.

“So I've most likely acquired round £120,000 to spare subsequent 12 months, so I'll be again at work anyway. So subsequent 12 months, no downside, no stress, I simply need to play darts. L 'However, my administration crew might fear about it, my household might fear about it, I simply need to play.

“So long as I don't fall exterior of 64, as a result of then I'll retire. If I don't fall exterior of 64, I received't do Q college, as a result of I do know I wasn't ok, then I’ll actually begin one thing else.”

With a lot at stake and a combined 12 months to this point, Smith is aware of he might flip up at Alexandra Palace and switch a 50/50 12 months into a superb one and with that in thoughts his 'naked minimal' goal is a run to the semi-finals. -finals.

“Each time I play, I need to win. So the principle objective is simply to win the World Championships. The naked minimal I would love is not less than a semi-final. Even then, within the semi-finals. closing, I might lose £400,000 on my rating,” added Smith.

“However for me, the semi-finals are the naked minimal, however I solely come to win. As you don't have to consider it, I might like to make it to the third spherical of the World Cup, or to the spherical of 16, you need to be the World Champion That’s my fundamental objective, my solely objective, is to win.

“Every thing is occurring till December fifteenth when Worlds month begins. If I can get my sport prepared for that, or win Worlds, my 12 months will probably be superb once more.

“So it’s simply this occasion that we labored 12 months for, we received it, after which it’s all forgotten.

“The Ally Pally, there's no higher feeling, particularly being on that stage too. You've spent 12 months of the 12 months attempting to get there, you're lastly there, and also you don't need to don't screw it up then That's the one stress on your self you possibly can consider: overlook about being away, it's been a wasted 12 months.”

When will the World Darts Championship happen?

The match begins at Alexandra Palace on Sunday, December 15, with three first spherical matches and one second spherical match on the opening evening.

There will probably be stay darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon periods, with the standard three-day break between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day earlier than returning with the third spherical and a double session on December 27.

The third and fourth rounds conclude on December 30 earlier than a night off on New 12 months's Eve, with the quarter-finals going down over two periods on New 12 months's Day earlier than the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday 3 January.

The total every day schedule for this 12 months's match could be seen here.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely stay from December 15 to January 3 on Sky Sports activities' devoted darts channel. Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.