Darts

Wright is lethal. Smith can’t keep missing chances.

This is like watching someone play Taylor in the early 00s.

Come on bully boy!

Wright very much reminds me of Taylor. 
Digs in when he needs to. Makes the opposing player have to make a score at each visit. Doesn't feel the pressure that others do.

Tables have well and truly turned now

Not quite the barnstormer we expected but engrossing stuff. Hard to pick a winner. Wright looks flaky but then seems to find something. Smith rattles in the 180s but not so smart in the doubles. Very much in the balance.  

Every time Smith looks like getting away, Wright somehow nicks a set.

I fear Smith might have blown it there, 5-4 and then 2-0 up in the set and lost it.

Feel for Smith

Wright just relentless with his scoring. Absolutely superb performance

Wright in that interview was unreal. He could sense the crowd and was almost uncomfortable. That was proper bigger man. Hope he enjoys his victory for a long while.

Withdrawals aside, what a fantastic tournament. There was so much drama, unlucky to Bully Boy, hopefully he will win it one year? surely he has too. 

My picks for best games 
Smith v Clayton
Borland v Brooks
Cross v Gurney

I did think from like the last 8 it was hard to pick a favorite, i mean likeability from a personal point a view. But overall such a brilliant event, Wright showed his class at the end last two sets were pretty much perfect so you cant really fault Smith for not forcing a decider. 

Roll on the premier league as stackitsteve says how can you pick just 10, Fallon probably gets in? although its debateable unless they stick with a wildcard each week (personally dont like them doing that)

ValleyGary said:

Wright in that interview was unreal. He could sense the crowd and was almost uncomfortable. That was proper bigger man. Hope he enjoys his victory for a long while.

Really toxic the booing of players, more than ever this year. Hope they can reign it in, but i am guessing its here to stay now. I dont mind the Scotland get battered etc. just the constant booing of players is just such poor etiquette, i cant see what they can do to stop it.

Addick Addict said:

Smith needs to see a sports psychologist. The misses were one thing (and I do appreciate that he needs to play his way and at his speed) but in the latter stages he was throwing like a very average pub player. He wasn't giving himself any chance to compose himself and think about how he might change the flow of the match. Consequently he was beaten much earlier than that final leg and if he carries on doing that he will continue to get the same result.

Ridiculous statement! 

Addick Addict said:

johnnybev1987 said:

Addick Addict said:

Smith needs to see a sports psychologist. The misses were one thing (and I do appreciate that he needs to play his way and at his speed) but in the latter stages he was throwing like a very average pub player. He wasn't giving himself any chance to compose himself and think about how he might change the flow of the match. Consequently he was beaten much earlier than that final leg and if he carries on doing that he will continue to get the same result.

Ridiculous statement! 

I will confess that I know nothing about darts but out of interest how many major tournaments has Smith won and has he made many finals before?

I am not a stat man, i know he has won floor events but not on TV. However this year is the best Michael Smith we have seen. He used to struggle on the doubles, pre-final he had 48% and showed the composure in other thrillers. So i do not agree with your statement at all fwiw, its a final and the big moments went Wrights way. He has been there and done it and it showed, also the last two sets he was as perfect as you could be to close out any final. 

He is only 31, MVG took a while(probably not as long if i remember correctly) before he finally came through. If he can take the postiives and use it to spur him on, i will be backing Smith to win next year if he can keep the form going it will come sooner rather than later in my opinion. Premier league? I would actually put money on him to win any TV event next year.