Michael Smith beat Luke Littler on his option to successful Premier League Evening One and he thinks the eye {the teenager} is attracting is a lift to his personal sport.
The Bully Boy loved the right begin to his marketing campaign, beating Michael van Gerwen, Littler after which Gerwyn Worth within the closing to win the primary weekly bonus and go high of the desk.
The 33-year-old went into final 12 months’s Premier League marketing campaign as world champion and world primary, however can boast neither accolade this time round with Luke Humphries claiming each.
It’s Littler that’s attracting all the eye, although, because the 17-year-old grew to become a world famous person for his performances over the past two months and Smith is having fun with with the ability to fly beneath the radar.
‘The most effective factor about this 12 months is I flip up tonight and by no means get requested to do an interview,’ Smith advised Sky Sports activities. ‘As quickly as Littler walked in…I can simply try to get again to it now.
‘Final 12 months I couldn’t sit for 5 minutes. It was a distinct expertise for me and I don’t assume I dealt with it effectively. I used to be making an attempt to play like a world champion, like world primary, placing an excessive amount of strain. This 12 months I don’t actually care, simply get on with it.’
Smith added that Littler’s new stardom is simply a profit for different gamers financially, in addition to taking the strain of the highlight away from them.
‘I don’t assume anybody’s adopted anybody as a lot as they’ve adopted Luke, even greater than Phil Taylor,’ stated Smith. ‘He’s gained 16 Worlds however Luke’s the preferred factor.
‘I’m going to experience the wave as a result of if everybody retains following, the sponsors maintain coming in, the prize cash retains going up for us lads.
‘He can do all of the arduous work, do all of the press that he desires, we simply receives a commission on the finish of the day.’
Smith fell early within the defence of his World Championship title however he’s sounding optimistic as he seems to regain high type in 2024.
‘Coming into this, it’s a recent 12 months, I used to be not completely happy that I misplaced within the Worlds, I’m now a former world champion and I would like it again,’ he stated.
‘Coming in tonight I needed to show lots of people improper saying it’s my darts, it’s this, it’s that. It’s not the darts, it’s me, simply not practising, not doing something proper.
‘Now, the final three months I’ve been working actually arduous, I’ve not discovered it however tonight I’ve discovered glimpses and I’ve gained.’
MORE : James Wade warns Luke Littler the Premier League marketing campaign will ‘come at a price’
For extra tales like this, examine our sport web page.
Comply with Metro Sport for the most recent information on
Fb, Twitter and Instagram.