World Champion Michael Smith explains why he doesn’t even have a dartboard in his house

Michael Smith has decided against putting a dartboard in his house despite being the reigning world champion and world No.1 – because there are too many distractions.

Bully Boy reckons with having the two young sons he shares with wife Dagmara bother him during practice as well as home comforts, he wouldn’t be able to find the focus he needs to spend hours on the board hitting 180s.

Smith opened up about his life and career while appearing on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour, with the MMA Fighting host recently falling in love with darts after watching Smith beat Michael van Gerwen in the final of the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship.

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When asked about his practice routine, Smith said: “Growing up it was always at home. But now I don’t have a dartboard in the house.

“I always practice in the pub. My mum and dad’s pub only opens at seven o’clock at night so I’ll go in there from 11 till 2:30 so the pub is shut and no one can bother me.”

Smith heads down to the boozer during the day, when it’s closed off to the general public, putting in the hours before heading home to his family.

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He added of home life: “There’s too many distractions. If I’ve got a dartboard at home the kids start asking questions or something good comes on TV, I’ll sit down and watch it.

“I’ve got to leave the house. I’ve got to go to work.” He added: “I open up and lock up behind me. I’m always locked in on my own so it’s just me and the dartboard and a bit of music on the TV and I just practice away.”

Smith went on to detail how his PDC World Championship trophy has remained in his mum and dad’s pub while he is in Bahrain for the Bahrain Darts Masters, with fans coming in to take photos since his triumph.

Smith, 32, who has £1,243,500 in prize money across the past two years, has now won two major PDC finals at the Grand Slam and PDC World Championship having lost his first eight finals in a row.

During the Alexandra Palace contest, Bully Boy hit a famous nine-darter after Van Gerwen had missed the double twelve for the same feat in the best leg of darts of all time.

The Sky Sports clip of that leg alongside Wayne Mardle’s commentary is what got Helwani interested in the sport – with Eddie Hearn predicting a darts boom across the pond.

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