Latest news with #ThibaultTricole
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Michael Smith causes unwanted shock by not qualifying for World Matchplay
Michael Smith, the 2023 PDC World Champion, continued a miserable year by failing to qualify the this weekend's World Matchplay in Blackpool. It's the first time in 12 years that the 34-year-old will have failed to make it to the oche, after performing badly in the Players Championship 21. Needing to make at least the last four of that Leicester-based tournament 'Bully Boy', as he is known, went out in the first round to Thibault Tricole and misses another chance to lift the World Matchplay for the first time. Although his best finish at Blackpool was when runner-up to Rob Cross in the 2019 final, it's been taken as read that he'd be there each year, along with many of the big names from the sport. Just two years after being the world's number one player, Smith will miss out, his ranking now as low as 21. He could drop even lower than that, depending on how others perform on the west coast. Smith's fall from grace has amazed fellow archer Matt Edgar, who said on his YouTube channel Edgar TV: 'Most surprisingly, the number one seed from two years ago hasn't qualified. Crazy, I know. "I still can't believe this: two years ago, Michael Smith was the number one seed at the World Matchplay. Now, he's not even in the event. How does that happen? It's madness. "The prize money from that run – where he reached the second round – is now coming off. He beat Steve Beaton 10-2, then lost a high-quality game 11-10 to Chris Dobey. 'That means £15,000 comes off Smith's ranking, and that could drop him down to world number 23 by the end of this event. It could be even lower depending on results. Just let that sink in – from world number one to world number 23 in two years." However, Edgar did have a positive outlook for Smith, adding: '(he) could definitely turn it around – he's got the quality, a former world champion and multiple-time winner. 'He could easily get back into the top 16 next year with a form turnaround and the prize money cycle shifting."
The Sun
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Former darts world champion misses out on major tournament for the first time in 12 years following shock loss
FORMER darts world champion Michael Smith will miss out on the World Matchplay in Blackpool for the first time in 12 years. Smith, 34, failed to qualify for the competition for the first time since 2013 after a poor performance in the Players Championship 21. 2 Bully Boy needed to make at least the semi-finals of the Leicester tournament to climb into the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit and earn a place at next week's showpiece. Unfortunately Smith crashed out in the first round, losing 6-4 to Thibault Tricole and sealing his unfortunate fate. Although Smith hasn't missed a World Matchplay event since 2013, he has never lifted the trophy and came closest to tasting success in 2019 when he finished runner up to Rob Cross. After Smith's exit from this week's Players Championship 21, it was former world youth champion Bradley Brooks who went on to win the tournament. Brooks, 25, banked £15,000 after beating the likes of Chris Dobey and James Wade on his way to an 8-5 victory over Gerwyn Price in the final. The Blackburn thrower was in disbelief at his sensational performance. Speaking afterwards, he said: "I'm lost for words. This week I felt so comfortable in my own game and everything clicked, so I'm over the moon. "I treated the final like I had nothing to lose. I can't put into words how much it means to me. 2 "I struggled a couple of times this year and I still have that bad game in me, but I think when I do get it right, I can mix it with the best in the room." Unfortunately Brooks will also miss out on a spot at the World Matchplay given that he is still way back in 73rd spot in the Order of Merit. Big name players such as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have, of course, earned their spot on the stage in Blackpool. While exciting qualifiers from the ProTour rankings include Martin Schindler, Ryan Searle, Mike De Decker and Raymond van Barneveld.
