There was a ghost of Christmas past for Michael Smith at the Alexandra Palace.
It was just 12 months ago Bully Boy was able to navigate past Kevin Doets, but the roles were reversed this time out. It was a barnstorming affair with Smith taking the first set 3-0 – despite the Dutchman having darts to win each leg.
From there it was an all out sprint.
Doets and Smith went blow for blow, as the World No.2 saved his skin on numerous occasions as they headed to a deciding set. It was raining 180s on the stage, and Smith had to take out 123 to remain the game – extending the game when he took out 84 the following set.
The Dutchman broke Smith and Smith broke Doets, but Smith was soon in a 4-3 lead. Bully Boy was on his way to pulling off one of the great escapes, but Doets had other ideas.
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His crowning moment came with the scores level at 4-4, Doets nailed 20, 20, bull to checkout and leave himself one leg away from the match. In the final set, Doets had three double 20 chances – he missed tops, missed D10, but hit perfection on D5.
“I cannot describe this,” the Dutchman told Sky Sports after the game.
“I was really close to beating Rob Cross in the World Series finals. I lost out, I was unlucky. 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.
“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!”