Michael Smith on rollercoaster win over Joe Cullen at the Grand Slam of Darts “I pulled it out of my arse from somewhere and it went in”

Smith and Cullen served up a treat in Wolverhampton at the Grand Slam, Smith was quicker out of the blocks but Cullen dug in and looked favourite to book a semifinal slot. But Smith had other ideas. 

In a gripping end to the contest, it was Smith who found a way and dug deep to seal the victory.

“11-9 down and 15-13 down, I looked at the case and seen the kids and said it’s now or never. You’ve got to try and play and when he hit the 180, I thought if you check the 70 out now to go 15-14 you won’t play well in the next leg. You’ve got to do as he’s hit two 180’s, it’s his throw and he’s got to start well. Checked it out and he didn’t have the best of legs. The last leg I went to the case again, let him think about it, it’s 15-15. Come back up and rest is history,”

“The way my double 20 was going, he would have expected a shot but I pulled it out of my a**e from somewhere and it went in. All I knew was if I could break him, 15-14 without a bad leg I’d win the match.”

“I’ve had a decent year. I can’t moan, there’s players ranked behind me who haven’t done that. I’ve had the experience being in the semi-finals a lot this year then getting into the final and it’s just getting ready for the big next step but I’ve got to get there first.”