WALKING WOUNDED Michael Smith reckons he will need a new shoulder when he finishes throwing darts because his body is “literally packing up”.
The St Helens darts star – who has slumped to 21 spot in the world rankings – is in constant pain and a fortnight ago, he was told by medics he has severe osteoarthritis in his shoulder.
Smith , 34, earned the title of World Champion back in 2023 after beating Michael van Gerwen in the final.
Since then, he has struggled to stay at the top of the darts world due to the emergence of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler .
However, the former champ is set to continue his career with the help of injections.
Due to his condition, he will be left potentially needing surgery after he retires from darts.
When the father-of-two went online for more information and googled the condition, he admits he got “scared” by the diagnosis and the long-term implications.
Bully Boy could ultimately require a shoulder replacement by the time he is in his mid-forties.
Separate from these challenges, he has struggled to walk properly on his left foot – he has taken antibiotics and painkillers to curb the agony – and a course of steroids might be on the agenda.
He told Online Darts : “I went on holiday, so it was the third one I missed.
“I got my MRI back for my shoulder. I’ve got severe osteoarthritis or something like that—I can’t even say it properly.
“The next step now is injections for my shoulder and wrist.
“Worst case is a shoulder replacement, which isn’t great, but that would only be when I retire. For now, it’s injections.
“A new shoulder would be like learning to play again. I got scared when I Googled it.
“I just heard arthritis, but then all the stuff before it scared me.
“They mentioned cortisone for my wrist, PRP which I need too, and then shoulder replacement where they cut your rotator cuff.
“That’s where I panicked. But the operation won’t be until I retire anyway—45, 46 maybe. For now, I’ll just deal with it.
Smith does not currently have a next match scheduled.
He recently missed out on qualification to the World Matchplay for the first time since 2013.
His last time at the oche ended in defeat as he was beaten in the first round of the Players Championship 21 by Polish ace Krzysztof Ratajski.
When Smith won the world title after years of heartbreak – he beat Michael van Gerwen 7-4 in the final and hit a nine-darter – he celebrated throughout the following season, and even had a wild holiday in Las Vegas with his wife.
However, his second-round defeat in December 2024 to Dutchman Kevin Doets meant he dropped £485,000 off his rankings, denying him a spot in some TV events.
Smith has essentially written off the rest of this year in terms of performances but he is determined to return to form at the PDC World Darts Championship – where there is £1million on the line for the winner.
On September 20, he will undergo eye laser surgery, which will mean skipping some European Tour events.
He added: “This is not going to stop me. I’ll be back. I don’t know anything else but to play darts and to fight.
“I’m a Manchester United fan. Like them, I’m a sleeping giant. I will wake up one day.
“At home, when I’m practising, I’m in a good place. I feel right. Then I go to Pro Tours and just one bad game, in your head, it just goes back to square one.
“My main issue now is getting everything right for December. Listen, if I win five games in the Worlds, I’m back in the top ten, it’s like 200 grand.
“Everyone will forget my year then. If I want to win it, which I know I’ve done before – I’ve been in the final three times – I could be back in the top three or top four. Never say never.
“For me, I know I’ll be back up there. It’s the idiocy of when you see people’s comments online.
“I managed my schedule poorly when I became World Champion. I didn’t do the full year as much as I should.
“I just concentrated more on TV. It bit me in the a*** for the next two years.”
