Shock at Ally Pally as second seed Michael Smith is KNOCKED OUT of the PDC World Darts Championship by Kevin Doets after a dramatic tie-break

Second seed Michael Smith is out of the PDC World Darts Championship after losing 3-2 to Kevin Doets in an epic match in the second round.

Smith – who won the tournament in January 2023 – whitewashed Doets in the first and third sets to take a 2-1 lead.

But the final set went all the way to a tie-break, which Doets eventually won 6-4 after missing three match darts.

Smith recorded a three-dart average of 96.93, while Doets averaged 96.90.

Doets – who beat Noa-Lynn van Leuven 3-1 in round one  – will now face Krzysztof Ratajski, Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo in the last 32 after Christmas.

Speaking on Sky Sports after his shock win, Doets said: ‘I cannot describe this.

Former winner Michael Smith has been knocked out of the PDC World Darts Championship

Smith was beaten 3-2 by Dutchman Kevin Doets after a dramatic tie-breaker in the final set

‘This game was weird. He took his own set easy, I took my set easy, he took his easy, I took mine easily. The last set was incredible.’

Doets hit nine 180s – five more than Smith.

Smith finished the match with a 35.5% success rate on doubles, while Doets hit 31.6% of his.

Both men took out three-figure finishes, including an impressive 123 by Smith. 

Thursday’s game was a rematch from last year’s second round when Smith beat Doets 3-2.

Doets said: ‘Before the game, I won the bull and he won it 3-2. This year, he won the bull and I won it 3-2. This is the most stressful game of my life and I’ve won it, yes!’

His impressive win came despite missing 11 darts at a double in the first set.

Doets concluded: ‘I felt like my scoring power was great, I just couldn’t get a double in. When I got one in, I just kept on going and going.’

Smith’s three-dart average was higher than Doets’ and his doubles success rate was better too

But Doets hit more 180s and claimed a crucial victory by winning the final set by six legs to four

The only other second round game on Tuesday saw Robert Owen beat Gabriel Clemens 3-1.

Tuesday’s other matches were all in round one. Lok Yin Lee beat Chris Landman 3-1 in the first match of the afternoon before Callan Rydz and Martin Lukeman overcame Romeo Grbavac and Nitin Kumar respectively.

Nik Kenny won 3-0 against Stowe Buntz in the evening session, before Matt Campbell edged out Mensur Suljovic 2-3.

Scott Williams defeated Niko Springer 3-1 before Doets shocked Smith.