Michael Smith has issued a heartfelt apology to his fans and made a bold promise for 2027 after defeating Rob Owen at the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel. The former world champion, who has been plagued by physical problems in recent years, addressed the crowd directly during his on-stage interview, expressing regret for his prolonged absence from the PDC circuit.
"I just want to apologise first and foremost for taking too much time away because I've missed this, like straight away walking out I've missed it so I want to apologise and also make a promise that in 2027," Smith said on stage. The 36-year-old Englishman then made his intentions clear: "I will be playing 100% of the tournament, and you will see me back so you're an amazing crowd but that's my my promise for now."
Smith's struggles have been well documented. Since winning the world title in 2023 by beating Michael van Gerwen in the final, he has faced several physical issues that have impacted his performances and presence on the PDC circuit. He has arthritis in his right hand and problems with his wrists, having broken both wrists at the age of 19. He also suffered a grade-two injury to the acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder, which required intensive physiotherapy, and has had problems with his foot and ankle.
These persistent symptoms have forced Smith to miss matches and tournaments regularly, coinciding with a sharp fall in the world rankings. He has now slipped to 36th in the world rankings. Despite the setbacks, Smith has no intention of winding down his career and made clear his ambition to return to the circuit full-time next year. He did not provide further details about what his schedule will look like, but ended by thanking the crowd for their support.
