Michael Smith has crashed out of the World Darts Championship in a five-set epic.
The second seed came up against Dutchman Kevin Doets and fell short with a 3-2 defeat in a nail-biting contest at Alexandra Palace.
As the 2023 world champion, Smith’s shock second-round defeat will see him plummet down the world rankings as he failed the defend his £500,000 prize from two years ago.
“The first 12 months after winning it were the best 12 months of my life,” Smith said ahead of the game.
“I stepped away from darts, no Pro Tours, no Europeans, I just had fun. I must have had eight or nine holidays throughout the year, but in the last year I have been paying the price for that.
“I have been struggling to find different rhythms and different forms and also who I am as a person. It was a bit of a catch 22 really, trying to find it all again.
“But you know what, I’d do it all again. I just know the next time I win the Worlds, I am going to do a Humphries and keep on playing and playing and playing, because that guy is absolutely killing it.
“I did the wrong thing. I think it might have been because I had been to the final twice before and lost them both, so after I won it I just thought I’m going to go and enjoy myself now. It was immature, but I just wanted to have fun.”
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