On Friday, the PDC World Darts Championship gets underway at London’s Alexandra Palace. Michael Smith will start there as defending champion after beating Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in last year’s final.
Following last year’s final, there was much hype about Smith’s nine-darter in the third leg of the second set, just moments after Van Gerwen missed double twelve for a nine darter himself. The commentators and also the crowd in attendance could not believe their eyes in what afterwards was quickly labeled as the best leg ever.
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“I think it’s one of the best legs of darts I have ever seen,” Van Gerwen reflects. “But for me, it wasn’t really missing nine darter, it was missing the leg after. One dart at a double you can miss, but two darts, not against someone like Michael Smith in a World Championship final.”
After his missed nine darter, Van Gerwen received a fistbump from Smith. “That might have actually helped him a little bit,” Van Gerwen poses. “Fair play to him, he did well there.”
Van Gerwen starts the PDC World Darts Championship on Thursday night, December 19, in the opening round he will take on the winner of the duel between Keane Barry and Reynaldo Rivera. Smith, on the other hand, gets to play right away on opening night. ‘Bullyboy’ will take on the winner of the duel between Kevin Doets and Stowe Buntz.
