‘Once you start slipping' – Former world darts champion Michael Smith handed brutal reality check as he bids to return

The Sun

2 days ago

MICHAEL SMITH has been told "the tour waits for no one" by Dutch star Vincent van der Voort.
The former world champion, 34, opened up on his battle with arthritis earlier this year.
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Smith, who triumphed at Ally Pally in 2023, has been struggling with the condition in his throwing hand.
Bully Boy lost his place in this year's Premier League, while he has also fallen out of the world's top 20.
Last month Smith even failed to qualify for the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
And he was recently forced to undergo blood tests amid ongoing health issues.
Dutch darts stars Jermaine Wattimena, Vincent van der Voort and Damian Vlottes discussed Bully Boy's struggles on the Darts drait door podcast.
Having discussed Wattimena's struggles, the 37-year-old previously lost his tour card, the team moved on to Smith's situation, with the world No26 saying: "That's just really sad."
Former World Championship quarter-finalist Van der Voort added: "It's incredible how quickly things can go wrong. He's a world-class talent, but now it's about how he manages this."
The 49-year-old continued: "The Tour waits for no one.
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"Even for top players— (Michael) van Gerwen, Dimitri van den Bergh, Joe Cullen—once you start slipping, it's so hard to get back."
Speaking with empathy, Wattimena said: "I've been there. You're throwing 100 averages and still losing.
Michael Smith admits health condition 'keeps getting worse' and left darts star with no choice but to seek help
"You look at the board thinking, 'What more do I have to do?' It gets frustrating."
Smith opened up about his condition while speaking to Sky Sports in February.
Bully Boy said: "I've had it for a few years now. It was always when it was winter so I thought it was just the cold affecting it.
"But it just keeps getting worse and worse. My wrist will start swelling up and the constant pain where I can't bend it so it is getting a bit difficult."
Quizzed if he ever suspected that his problems stemmed from arthritis, he said: "It was there because I broke both my wrists when I was 19 so it was going to catch up with me eventually so I think it has now."