Is The Big Dog Ready To Bark in Pompey?
Former World Master Adam Smith-Neale makes his long-awaited return to the MODUS Super Series tomorrow afternoon – and it’s fair to say he’s got a bit of baggage in the hold.
If I had to sum this up in as few words as possible – which technically I do – it would go something like this: Adam, 31, earned his PDC Tour Card on the final day of 2023 UK Q-School. Things were ticking along nicely until, in March last year, he punched someone at a pub tournament in Nuneaton.
Mervyn King lost a table-mate to chat to at Players Championships. Smith-Neale lost his Tour Card. Both unfortunate – but you’d probably rather be in the King camp there.Now, finally, the Coventry-born thrower opens up about that incident:
“It was on a Saturday afternoon in a local near where I live in Nuneaton,” Adam explains.
“I was in the semi-final of this tournament and playing a lad …. who is just a couple of years older than me.
“There was a bit of needle and he made threats towards me which plenty of people heard. Then my mum got involved and he had a go back at her, making threats also. It was kind of decided between us that we would sort things out after the match.
“Then as he threw the winning dart and walked to retrieve it from the board, he made a derogatory comment under his breath – well, it was loud enough to clearly hear.
So when he turned round, I gave him a kind of hard slap which I guess looked like a punch on the video footage.”
By Monday, Adam got word from a friend that the incident had made the national tabloids and was already circulating on social media. The next day, the DRA called – and they weren’t inviting him to their Christmas Party. They were letting him know he’d be helping to pay for it.
“They told me I was suspended pending an investigation for bringing the game into disrepute.”
Punching someone in the face will do that, mate. Before the ban, Smith-Neale was in a decent place: on track for Minehead, still in the hunt for Ally Pally, and – crucially – still welcome at Mervyn King’s table.
By July, though, the suspension was official:
“Yeah, I knew a few weeks before it went public. They gave me eight months, which was actually quite clever – it still meant I could attend the World Championship qualifiers and Q-School the following January if needed.”
When asked if he regrets it? No hesitation.
“If someone threatens my family, I would do the same thing again.”
Right now, ASN (I’ve decided to abbreviate him for convenience) is working in a tech company, practising regularly, and feeling good about his game. He’s got his own setup at home and says the form’s been solid. Tomorrow, we find out.
“Very much looking forward to it. I had a weekly win when it was staged in Southampton, then played at this new venue a few years back. At the time, they were still getting everything in place – but from what I hear, it looks great now.”
So, if he can avoid slapping any future opponents, what’s the long-term goal?
“I’ve just become a father for the first time. His name is Freddie and he was born in January, so I’m spending a lot of time learning about fatherhood. I’ll be looking to go to Q-School next January and would love to get back on tour. That’s the plan.”
There’s always the ADC, MODUS, WDF – or even the amateur boxing circuit if that all falls through.
But one thing’s certain: Adam is hungry to get back in the ring. And no – that wasn’t a Freudian slip.
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
