Michael Smith has made an honest, albeit worrying, admission ahead of his World Cup of Darts debut – he is not a very good pairs player.
The world number six is teaming up with Rob Cross in the England side for the first time ever, making his World Cup bow against the Philippines on Friday night in Hamburg.
With Cross ranked number two in the world, the English pair are going into the tournament as the number one seeds and one of the favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday.
However, Smith admits that he is not a great doubles player, with the gaps between throws impacting his game.
Last year I tried my stones to get in because Ive never played in it before, Smith told Metro.co.uk. When I played for England in youth tournaments I got dropped because I joined the PDC.
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Im not a very good pairs player, though. I played in a league and theres too much standing around and waiting.
But if you get past the first round you just need to win the two singles games and youre through.
Smith is right that the second round, quarter-finals and semis could all see no pairs matches at all, if one side can win their opening singles matches.
With only the first round and the final guaranteed to see pairs matches, Smith may not have too much to worry about.
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Bully Boy is certainly not letting the prospect of pairs action put him off and he is relishing performing for his country on the big stage.
Even if I were to fall down the rankings in later years and this turns out to be the only chance I get to play for England, I will always look back on it with pride, Smith told the PDC.
I think weve got a good chance of doing well, Rob had a great Premier League season, whereas I didnt play badly but my doubles let me down.
England have won the World Cup of Darts four times before, buRead More – Source
Michael Smith has made an honest, albeit worrying, admission ahead of his World Cup of Darts debut – he is not a very good pairs player.
The world number six is teaming up with Rob Cross in the England side for the first time ever, making his World Cup bow against the Philippines on Friday night in Hamburg.
With Cross ranked number two in the world, the English pair are going into the tournament as the number one seeds and one of the favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday.
However, Smith admits that he is not a great doubles player, with the gaps between throws impacting his game.
Last year I tried my stones to get in because Ive never played in it before, Smith told Metro.co.uk. When I played for England in youth tournaments I got dropped because I joined the PDC.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Im not a very good pairs player, though. I played in a league and theres too much standing around and waiting.
But if you get past the first round you just need to win the two singles games and youre through.
Smith is right that the second round, quarter-finals and semis could all see no pairs matches at all, if one side can win their opening singles matches.
With only the first round and the final guaranteed to see pairs matches, Smith may not have too much to worry about.
More: Darts
Bully Boy is certainly not letting the prospect of pairs action put him off and he is relishing performing for his country on the big stage.
Even if I were to fall down the rankings in later years and this turns out to be the only chance I get to play for England, I will always look back on it with pride, Smith told the PDC.
I think weve got a good chance of doing well, Rob had a great Premier League season, whereas I didnt play badly but my doubles let me down.
England have won the World Cup of Darts four times before, buRead More – Source
