MICHAEL SMITH drew blood twice during his Grand Slam of Darts quarter-final defeat to Luke Humphries.
Bully Boy tried to claw his way back into the contest but it was the sharp points of his arrows that slashed his forehead, prompting to ask: “What happened to your head?”
Smith’s forehead was bloodied during his defeat to Humphries
Humphries asked Smith: “What happened to your head?”
Cool Hand emerged with a comfortable victory in WolverhamptonCredit: PA
Smith, who fell behind early on, looked on course for an impressive comeback when he drew level at 7-7 in the first-to-16 contest.
But Humphries found another gear to win nine of the next 10 legs and book his spot in the semi-finals with a 16-8 victory.
Smith grew increasingly frustrated as the match progressed, and the on-stage microphones picked up several of his angry screams.
Then, late in the match, a bloody scratch caused by the point of a dart became visible on his forehead.
Smith had been tapping the sharp tip near his hairline while pondering how to get back into the showdown.
And by the time he embraced Humphries moments after being dumped out of the tournament, a second stream of blood had emerged.
commentator Dan Dawson said: “Michael Smith when he is frustrated, when he is worried, when he is trying to figure things out on the dartboard he will take the point of his dart and he scratches his forehead.
“He has done that so much he has drawn blood.”
Smith, 35, will leave with good memories and he was only a fraction away from a perfect leg in leg 11 but, much to the fans’ annoyance, he missed the key double 12.
At times, Humphries – who had a back spasm on Wednesday and – was unplayable.
Provided he stays fit and healthy, he has an excellent chance of lifting the title again this weekend, but he will have to get past first on Sunday afternoon.
Lifting the Eric Bristow Trophy again is not in itself enough to stay as world No.1 because he will lose that status if – who faces Josh Rock in the quarters on Saturday – makes the final.
Humphries, who averaged 105, set out his intentions in leg one with a break of throw and then led 4-1 going into the first TV break with a 105.13 average, more than 13 points better than Smith.
The pair shared a hug and a laugh when the next comfort break took place even though Humphries was 7-3 up at this point.
After they returned to the oche, both men were targeting a nine-darter but after Smith could not find the accuracy with his ninth dart, Humphries missed his seventh successive treble 20.
Former world champion Humphries had hit a nine-darter against Smith in the group stage.
And that would have been perfect revenge for Bully Boy upon his return to the big time this week after a series of debilitating injuries.
Smith drew level at 7-7 and threatened a comeback but then missed the Bull for 164, and Humphries responded with a stunning 138.
In the race to 16 legs, Humphries continued to throw solid, consistent darts despite his injury and cruised to the target, finishing on double nine.
Bully Boy’s head was scratched up late in the match
But overall he had a positive week overall in WolverhamptonCredit: PA 
