Smith hits nine-darter to claim first PDC World Championship title

Michael Smith celebrates with the Sid Waddell Trophy after winning the PDC World Darts Championship ©Getty Images

Michael Smith hit a nine-dart finish on his way to claiming his first Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Darts Championship title.

England’s Smith defeated Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands by seven sets to four in a high-quality encounter at London’s Alexandra Palace, which included a remarkable leg in the second set.

Smith won the leg in nine darts, however van Gerwen himself also had the opportunity to achieve the nine-dart finish in the second leg, but missed double 12.

Smith’s nine-dart finish was the first in a PDC World Championship final since 2011 when England’s Adrian Lewis achieved the feat, in a match he went on to win.

Champion Smith finished the contest with a match average of 100.87 and 22 180s, while van Gerwen posted an average of 99.58, including 15 180s.

Van Gerwen took the lead in the match as he won his 14^th consecutive set, before Smith levelled by winning set two, including the nine-dart finish to make it 1-1.

The next two sets were shared before van Gerwen broke throw in 14 darts to take a 3-2 lead.

Michael Smith hit a nine-dart finish in set two on his way to winning his first PDC World Championship title ©Getty Images

It proved to be the last time the Dutchman would have the lead in the final as Smith went on to take control, winning 12 of the next 16 legs to take a 6-3 advantage.

In set ten, Smith had his first chance to complete the triumph, but in the deciding leg missed a 167, before van Gerwen made a last-dart double 16 to extend the match.

It looked like the momentum was shifting in set 11 as van Gerwen took a 2-0 lead, but Smith made a 106 checkout and then completed a 15-dart break of throw to force a deciding leg.

Back-to-back 180s put Smith in prime position to clinch the leg he needed, and it was sealed with a double eight to secure a 7-4 victory.

Smith became world number one following the victory as he also reversed the result of the 2019 final, when he lost 7-3 to van Gerwen, and went one better than last year, when he was defeated by Scotland’s Peter Wright.