Former world champion Michael Smith has disclosed that a persistent and increasingly debilitating ankle condition has, at times, rendered him virtually immobile for periods extending across several consecutive days.
The 2023 World Champion confirmed that the severity of the issue has compelled him to withdraw from this weekend’s International Darts Open in Riesa, allowing him to finally proceed with long-postponed cortisone treatment intended to alleviate the chronic inflammation which has plagued him throughout recent months.
Smith, whose career has been repeatedly interrupted by arthritic complications and recurrent physical setbacks, conceded that the decision had been an immensely dispiriting one following another exasperating sequence of disappointing performances on the professional circuit.
The St Helens-born star endured a particularly difficult midweek schedule after failing to secure qualification for both the Slovakian Darts Open and the European Darts Open. Those frustrations were compounded further by immediate first-round eliminations at Players Championship 17 and Players Championship 18 during the latest ProTour double-header.
Providing a candid update via social media, Smith explained: “Since I played pro tours in Milton Keynes and made the final my ankles haven’t been in a great place with constant swelling and being unable to walk for 4/5 days straight.”
He continued: “Then after spending 9 days in Germany, 3 flights and 13 hours on a train the problems have arisen again and to top it off an eye infection thrown in”
The former world number one further elaborated upon the circumstances behind his withdrawal, stating:
“So having cancelled my appointments twice for my cortisone injections I’ve decided I can’t cancel a 3rd time as it really needs sorting.”
Smith concluded with a message expressing his disappointment at missing the German event:
“So I’m gutted to be saying I won’t be playing in Riesa this weekend so I can get to my appointment Friday and hopefully sort it out.”
Despite the ongoing physical adversity, the current world number 31 has nevertheless demonstrated intermittent reminders of the formidable calibre that once propelled him to the summit of the sport.
This season alone, Smith has progressed to the final of Players Championship 11 while also producing quarter-final appearances in two European Tour events.
However, sustained momentum on the televised stage has remained conspicuously elusive. His deepest run in a major ranking tournament this year remains a fifth-round appearance at the UK Open, a campaign which, despite isolated flashes of excellence, has yet to culminate in the kind of substantive resurgence many anticipated from one of darts’ most prodigious talents.
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Images: PDC
