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Michael Smith says ‘it’s time to be greedy’ after breaking his major duck at the Grand Slam of Darts, defeating Nathan Aspinall 16-5 in comprehensible fashion to reign victorious in Wolverhampton.
Smith had endured defeat in all eight of his previous appearances in major televised finals, dating back to the Premier League four years ago, but the world number four finally tasted success in his fourth big-stage showpiece of the year.
The two-time Alexandra Palace runner-up, who will be vying to become world champion for the first time next month, was a beaten finalist at March’s UK Open and October’s European Championship but fulfilled his darting destiny at long last.
“I’m used to doing the runner-up speech. I’m now the cat, I’ve used my ninth life, and finally I’ve done it with this one,” joked Smith on Sky Sports whilst cradling the prestigious Eric Bristow trophy.
“I have arrived now, I have got my first title under my belt and no one can say I’m a bottle job, ‘Michael Smith hasn’t won a title’.
“Nobody can take this away from me now. I have finally got one under my belt and it is time to step up. I knew when I went in at 15-5 it was just one more, even I couldn’t have messed that up.
“It is hard when I’m the only person in the top 10 not to win a title, I have been there for seven years and it’s just a pain. You keep trying to say you will win one and you keep getting beaten.
“Now I don’t have to tell myself I’ll win one. It’s a big weight off my shoulders. It’s my time now – it is time to be greedy and get more and that is what I want.”
Aspinall, meanwhile, was full of admiration for the sport’s newest major champion, praising his good friend following his second televised final in the space of a few weeks, months after a career-threatening wrist injury.
“I’m really proud obviously where I came from in January, two major finals in three tournaments but I hope I’m not going to go on his trend,” Aspinall laughed.
“But honestly I love Michael to bits, I’m so proud of him. He’s been beaten in all these finals and then you see the stuff that is said about him. It’s hard to get over the line and he’s done that tonight.
“He’s going to dominate and I’m really sorry to the rest of the tour card holders but we’re all in trouble now as he’s won his first major. If I’m going to lose to anyone, I’m glad it’s Michael.”
