‘Opinions are like…’ – Darts star Micky Mansell reignites feud with former world champ after handshake snub

Mickey Mansell and Michael Smith’s simmering feud exploded back into public view at the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze on Friday, as the pair refused to shake hands before their first-round clash — and Mansell let his darts do the talking once again, beating the former world champion for a second time in six weeks before firing a pointed message on social media.

The bad blood between the two men has been building since February, when their paths collided at the European Tour qualifier in Hildesheim, Germany. What followed was one of the more colourful off-board spats the PDC circuit has seen this season, spilling across Facebook, Instagram, and X in a very public exchange that showed no sign of cooling by the time both players arrived at the Oktoberhallen.

How It Started: The Qualifier Row That Lit the Fuse

The trouble began at a European Tour qualifier for the Poland Darts Open, where Smith lost to Mansell in the deciding round. ‘Bully Boy’ did not hold back afterwards, launching a furious rant on social media aimed at the Northern Irishman’s style of play. He wrote on Facebook: “Imagine doing that to win a game. Tinkerbell won’t come along and move your darts for you. No need to stand looking at the board for 15 seconds. Horrible mentality. And a horrible player.”

Smith elaborated further, adding: “His throw doesn’t bother me, it’s the standing looking at his darts for 15 seconds hoping Harry Potter does a spell and moves one of them.”

The post was subsequently deleted, but not before it had been widely screenshotted and circulated across darts social media. Smith also decided to withdraw from the subsequent qualifier, less than an hour after losing against Mansell, though no reason was given for his withdrawal.

Mansell was characteristically unbothered in his response. He wrote on X: “Shoulda been a boxer!! Knocked one man outta 2 tournaments.” Smith’s wife Dagmara also weighed in, responding to Mansell’s post: “No you shouldn’t, your moves are too slow for that.”

The exchange had all the hallmarks of a darts row that was not going to be resolved quietly.

The Pain Behind the Fury

While the spat grabbed the headlines, Smith later offered a more vulnerable window into what was driving his frustration. After deleting his post on Facebook, Smith took to Instagram to share a photograph of his ankle, detailing the brutal physical toll of life on tour. He wrote: “Just want to show what happens now when I travel and what the pressure of the plane does to me. It’s not sympathy or anything it’s just annoying because I put myself through this to play the sport I love and just infuriates me I have to deal with tactics like that. It shouldn’t bother me but it does because it makes me question myself why do I bother to put up with the pain and suffering to please everyone else over my health.”

The admission added a layer of poignancy to a situation that had appeared on the surface to be straightforward darts needle. Smith, a man who has fought through significant physical adversity throughout his career, had been desperate to play in Poland for personal reasons that went beyond prize money and ranking points.

He later explained that his partner is from Poland, making that particular event uniquely meaningful. “That’s why I got so annoyed when I lost in the qualifiers. It’s the only one where I wanted to bring the family over and stuff,” he said after eventually reaching the event as a replacement for the withdrawn Gerwyn Price.

Wieze: No Handshake, Same Result

With Smith having entered the Belgian Darts Open through the Tour Card Holder Qualifier route, and Mansell having qualified via the regular draw, the fixture gods duly conspired to bring them back together in round one in Wieze on Friday afternoon — barely six weeks after their last meeting.

After walking onto the stage, both players snubbed the traditional pre-match handshake, making the tension visible for the watching crowd and cameras from the very first moment.

There was no sporting revenge for Smith either, as the former world champion once again had to bow to Mansell. ‘Bully Boy’ posted the higher average and hit four 180s, but was wasteful on the doubles, which ultimately saw him lose 6-3. For a player of Smith’s calibre to average 98.21 and still lose is a testament to Mansell’s composure in circumstances that were anything but comfortable.

For the 52-year-old Mansell, it was a composed, pressure-resistant performance from a player who has never been short of self-belief.

Mansell’s Post-Match Message

After the match, Mansell let the win speak for itself — but could not resist one final observation directed at the broader court of public opinion that had been watching the feud unfold.

He wrote on X: “Obviously I’ve got plenty I’d like to say but what’s the point? Opinions are like assholes everyone has one!”

It is a phrase that neatly captures Mansell’s attitude toward the noise that has surrounded this spat. Whether Smith’s original criticism of his pace of play constituted gamesmanship, legitimate grievance, or simple frustration boiling over, Mansell has twice responded in the only language that unambiguously settles arguments on the ProTour — by winning the match.

What Comes Next

Mansell returns to action on Saturday evening where he will face Michael van Gerwen for a place in round three of the European Tour event. It is as steep a step up in class as exists on the tour, with the three-time world champion and the competition’s seeded draw pitting ‘The Green Machine’ against Mansell in what promises to be one of the day’s most compelling second-round ties.

For Smith, meanwhile, the Belgian Darts Open is over before it properly began — a result that will do little to soften whatever feelings remain between the two men as the European Tour rolls on toward its next stop.