Mighty Mike and The Bullyboy

December 2022 saw 96 player enter the arena at the Alexandra palace. Now only 2 remain as we prepare to find out who will become the winner of the 2023 Cazoo World Darts Championship. A Dutch multi-title winner out to reclaim his crown will take on a newly confident Englishman looking to take his final step to immortality:

Many predicted this Final before a dart was thrown as it was confirmed that it would be Michael Smith taking on Michael van Gerwen, for the chance to become the World Number 1.

Mighty Mike hasn’t dropped a set in the year of 2023, beating Chris Dobey 5-0 on New Year’s Day to reach the Semi Finals. The Dutchman then ran riot against former Matchplay Champion Dimitri van den Bergh, recording a 6-0 victory with his opponent appearing to be unhappy with possible encroachment from the Green Machine.

The reigning Grand Slam champion survived a scare against Stephen Bunting in the Quarter Finals, checking out at 47.06% which made all the difference, as the 2014 Former BDO World Champion found 8 more 180s than the World Number 4 on the oche.

Bully Boy has shown throughout the whole of 2022 that he has what it takes to get his hands on the Sid Waddell trophy for the very first time, impressing in his L16 4-1 win over Masters Champion Joe Cullen where he averaged 103.25 and found 10 maximums over five sets played.

Smith continued his 100 percent record in World Championship Semi-Finals, ending the dream run of Gabriel Clemens. The german Giant made history by becoming the first German international to appear in a World Quarter Final and Semi-Final, but it was the Englishman who averaged 101.85 and hit 19 180s as he claimed a 6-2 victory to reach his 3^rd World Final.

MVG has looked the most consistent at the Alexandra Palace, averaging over a ton in every single game he’s played so far. The Dutchman has beaten the likes of Mensur Suljovic and compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode but found his highest average of 108.28 to reach his 6^th World Final against Van den Bergh on Monday night.

Coverage of the Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship Final gets underway from 7:45pm with the players set to walk on at around 8pm. Will Michael Smith become the 11^th different name on the trophy or will Michael van Gerwen become a four-time World Champion and regain the World Number 1 spot?

Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship Final:

Michael Smith (4) v Michael van Gerwen (3)

—–ENDS—–

Images: Taylor Lanning / PDC

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