Mickey Mansell has delivered a pointed response to his ongoing feud with Michael Smith following their latest clash at the 2026 Belgian Darts Open, choosing a measured but unmistakably sharp tone. Mansell took to social media shortly after the match, posting: "Ive got plenty I'd like to say but what's the point? Opinions are like assholes everyone has one!" The message landed in the context of a visibly tense encounter where friction was evident long before a dart was thrown.
The clearest sign that this rivalry has moved beyond words came before the match had even begun. Mansell declined the customary pre-match handshake with Smith, a rare and deliberate act in professional darts. While the pair did exchange a quick handshake after the contest, it was fleeting and without any sign of reconciliation, reinforcing the sense that the issue between them remains unresolved.
On the board, the story followed a familiar pattern. Mansell secured another 6-3 victory, repeating the scoreline from their previous meeting earlier in the year and further tilting this personal battle in his favour. The tension between the two players has been building since earlier in 2026, when Smith publicly criticised Mansell's playing style following a defeat in a European Tour qualifier, sparking a back and forth on social media.
This latest chapter, however, felt notably different. Rather than escalating the situation with a direct attack, Mansell's post-match reaction struck a more dismissive tone. The suggestion that he has more to say, but sees little value in saying it, adds another layer to a rivalry that now extends beyond online exchanges and into their behaviour on stage. With two wins over Smith in recent weeks and no sign of a thaw in relations, this is a feud that shows little sign of fading any time soon.
