Former world champion Michael Smith faces awkward reunion with darts rival after lashing out at ‘horrible player’

Michael Smith’s ongoing feud with Mickey Mansell isn’t going away any time soon and continues to generate plenty of attention across the darts world.

The former PDC World Darts Championship winner lost 6-3 to the Irishman at the Belgian Darts Open a couple of weeks ago and was left absolutely furious with what he described as his opponent’s slow play and on-stage approach.

Smith didn’t hold back at all when reacting to the defeat, launching into a scathing rant about Mansell’s style and mentality during the match.

Smith said: “Imagine doing that to win a game. Tinkerbell won’t come along and move your darts for you. No need stand looking at the board for 15 seconds. Horrible mentality. And horrible player.

“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.”

Despite the strong criticism, Mansell didn’t seem particularly bothered by Smith’s comments and chose not to escalate the war of words any further, even though he admitted he had plenty he could say in response.

“Obviously I’ve got plenty I’d like to say but what’s the point?” he said when asked about the situation.

He added: “Opinions are like a**holes—everyone has one!”

Smith isn’t the only big-name player to encounter problems with Mansell over the years either. James Wade is another established star who has had frosty and tense encounters with the Northern Irishman, adding to the growing narrative around Mansell’s presence on the oche.

The rivalry took another turn recently when Mansell hammered Smith once again, this time sealing a dominant 6-1 victory in a European qualifier, further intensifying the tension between the two players and underlining his recent upper hand in their meetings.

Before their clash at the Belgian Darts Open, Mansell had already raised eyebrows by snubbing Smith’s pre-match handshake, a moment that did not go unnoticed and has since been referenced as another flashpoint in their ongoing feud.

Smith has since taken to Facebook to explain in more detail what has been frustrating him so much, going beyond the match itself to reveal the physical toll that competing on tour is having on his body.

According to Smith, his ankles are already suffering badly due to the constant travel involved in competing across Europe, with frequent flights putting added pressure on his joints and leaving him in discomfort.

The former world champion admitted that it’s difficult to accept pushing through pain and risking his health, only to then deal with what he perceives as gamesmanship or “tactics” from opponents like Mansell.

“Just want to show what happens now when I travel and what the pressure of the plane does to me,” he explained.

“It’s not sympathy or anything—it’s just annoying because I put myself through this to play the sport I love and it 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.

“This was Sunday night just after I landed. And this what I have to deal with now for no doubt rest of my life.

“And I know flying tomorrow, it will be bad again for another few days before it settles again. But please ignore my trotters by the way.”

With emotions still running high and neither side backing down, the feud between Smith and Mansell looks set to continue bubbling away, adding another layer of drama to the professional darts circuit.