Michael Smith advanced to the fifth round of the UK Open with a 10-8 victory over Leon Weber, but the former world champion was frank about a performance he admitted was "well below expectations." Speaking to DartsNews.com after the match on Saturday, March 7, 2026, Smith said, "Of course it wasn't what I wanted," but emphasized, "The main thing is I'm through." He expressed frustration at the gap between his practice form and stage display, noting, "Going from what I've been doing on the practice floor and then doing that all day on stage is weird. It's annoying."
The match was played on the UK Open's outer boards, where Smith described an intense atmosphere. He remarked to Gerwyn Price, "I had my headphones on at about 75% volume and I still said to him, 'Mate, it's louder than this.'" Smith added, "When Gezzy walked out they were all singing his name. The noise was unreal in there." Despite the chaotic surroundings, he managed to progress.
Smith, who won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2023, is currently ranked around 30th and detailed his ongoing struggles. He explained his practice has been reduced to about three and a half hours daily due to ankle and shoulder injuries, down from six or seven hours when he was world champion. "My ankle seizes up and my shoulder gets stiff, so I've got to stop and take breaks," he said. While injections have helped, his ankle still gets sore, especially after travel like the five-hour drive to the event.
Mentally, Smith is focusing on improvement, noting his practice averages have risen to around 95 or 96, with even a couple of 100 averages, but his match averages can drop to 87 or 82. "I need to get those averages back up," he stated. He has chosen not to seek outside help, saying, "If I'm going to come back, I want to do it myself. I don't want anyone getting credit for it." Smith also highlighted positive signs, having qualified for two European Tours and reaching a quarter-final in Poland.
Looking ahead, Smith faces Ryan Searle in the fifth round and keeps his goals simple: "I just want to make it difficult for my opponent." He reflected on past setbacks, including losing two world finals, a Premier League final, a Matchplay final, and a European Tour final, but remains determined. Despite past success at the UK Open with a final and semi-final, he joked, "The only thing that stands out about this tournament is the five-hour drive," and acknowledged the role of luck, saying, "I had a bit of luck tonight."
