MICHAEL SMITH has revealed he got DISTRACTED by the thought of a £60,000 bonus as he fluffed his lines.
Bully Boy reached the second round of the World Darts Championship in straight-sets as he ran out with a 3-0 win over Lisa Ashton.
The Englishman admits he was nervous in the first set as he looked to silence the crowd behind him knowing things would only get louder and louder if he dropped the opener.
But it was the second set after hitting 180, 180, he thought the huge darts bonus was hitting his bank on NIGHT ONE.
However, he ended up missing the chance, but is safely into the next round after a morning of bad “butterflies”.
The 35-year-old now has ten days off and that will involve plenty of practice before he returns to the main stage for his next match.
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He said: “That first set I was so nervous because obviously playing Lisa and I’ve got to try and keep these quiet behind me.
“I didn’t want to lose that first set and come back out thinking they’re going to be louder and louder and louder. So, I was trying to force things.
“Then that second set when I kicked off 180, 180 and I was like I’ve got £60,000 here but then I ended up missing.
“I had to keep focused and I nearly messed up again. Not a great game but I’ll take it.
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“Now, I’ve got 10 days off, solid practice now and back on the 20th.
“The butterflies were bad this morning. I’ve never missed a year here for the last 15 years.
“But to be back the way I’ve been playing, it was weird and that was the first time I felt 100 per cent this year and I didn’t play 100 per cent.
“Get the job done, concentrate on the next one and that’s the main thing now. It’s hard coming the first night, especially if you get beat.
“You’ve got 20-something nights watching it, so I’m glad to be through and I’m glad to be into the next round.
“It’s been difficult since I won the Worlds, all the injuries started kicking in. I had them before I won the Worlds.
“But when I got it, it was like my body went, you’ve done it now and you can relax and then it all started.
“I’ve still got that fight and hunger, I still turn up for these lot.
“You’ve seen it at the Grand Slam and Players Championship where I could have easily cried off sick, told the PDC I’m not coming.
“But I turn up every single time and I fight every single time.
“I do it for these lot behind. It’s not just me or my family, it’s mainly putting a show on for these.
“I get heartbroken the way when I play like that, the 180s have disappeared but in practice they’re going unreal. So that’ll give me some confidence.”
