Michael Smith wins three PDC awards in annual honours as Josh Rock named Young Player of the Year

Darts’ largest social gathering is again in 2023 because the Premier League roadshow heads to a venue close to you! The SSE Arena in Belfast hosts the primary of 17 particular person occasions from Thursday, February 2 with the play-offs returning to The O2 in London on Thursday, May 25

Michael Smith celebrates with the Sid Waddell trophy after profitable the ultimate of the Cazoo World Darts Championship in opposition to Michael van Gerwen at Alexandra Palace, London. Picture date: Tuesday January 3, 2023.

Michael Smith has been named PDC Player of the Year as a part of the 2022 PDC Annual Awards, scooping a hat-trick of honours following his sensational success during the last 12 months.

The newly-crowned world champion, who additionally celebrated Grand Slam of Darts and US Darts Masters glory in 2022, pipped Michael van Gerwen to the distinguished award.

Smith acquired international acclaim following his Alexandra Palace exploits, which noticed him land an astonishing nine-darter en path to victory over Van Gerwen in an epic closing on January 3.

The 32-year-old additionally appeared in UK Open and European Championship finals in 2022, whereas celebrating three Players Championship wins and a European Tour success on the Dutch Darts Championship.

Smith’s treble success within the 2022 PDC Annual Awards additionally noticed him topped Selco Fans’ Player of the Year and PDPA Players’ Player of the Year.

The world No 1received nearly 60 per cent of the vote from a document variety of followers who took half within the Selco Fans’ Player of the Year ballot, whereas he claimed 40 per cent of the votes from his fellow professionals.

“To pick up three awards shows I’m doing something right!” joked Smith, who joins the likes of Van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and Gerwyn Price in claiming a number of awards in a single yr.

“At the minute I’m on a massive rollercoaster and I’m loving every minute. I’ve put so much hard work in and I’m getting rewarded for it now.

“The followers’ award is without doubt one of the particular ones, as a result of they’ve lived it with me. They have felt the heartache I’ve felt, and so they felt the enjoyment after I gained it. It feels actually particular.

“I won the Players’ Player of the Year in 2019, so to win my second one, I must be one of the players that people enjoy watching!

“I’m misplaced for phrases actually. To win awards like that is superb, however the onerous work begins now. That was for 2022, and now I’ve started working even more durable in 2023.”

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Watch how Wayne Mardle and Stuart Pyke reacted to the sensational leg between Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith in the World Championship Final that culminated in a nine-darter for Bully Boy.

Elsewhere, Ross Smith, Luke Humphries and Josh Rock were also amongst the players recognised following their achievements over the last 12 months.

Ross Smith’s display in October’s European Championship final was judged the Toyo Tires Televised Performance of the Year, as the Kent star celebrated his first televised title in Dortmund.

The 34-year-old defeated his namesake Michael Smith in a thrilling final, averaging over 101, landing eight maximums and converting four ton-plus checkouts to close out a landmark 11-8 victory.

World No 5 Humphries was awarded ProTour Player of the Year after scooping five titles throughout 2022, which included four European Tour successes.

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Speaking on Love The Darts, Dan Dawson and Abi Davies give their early predictions on who will make the top four of this year’s Premier League.

The 27-year-old claimed a maiden Players Championship crown, before lifting European Tour titles in Munich, Prague, Stuttgart and Trier to cap off a superb ProTour campaign where he earned £187,750 in prize money.

Elsewhere, emerging star Rock received the Moneybarn Best Newcomer and Winmau Young Player of the Year awards following a sensational breakthrough season in 2022.

Rock, who claimed five Development Tour titles and a maiden ProTour crown last term, announced his big stage arrival at November’s Grand Slam of Darts, landing a nine-dart finish in a titanic tussle against Van Gerwen.

The 21-year-old then lifted the Winmau World Youth Championship title just weeks later, before he continued his remarkable rise with a run to the last 16 on his Cazoo World Darts Championship debut.

The new Premier League Darts season will start on the SSE Arena in Belfast on Thursday, February 2, the primary of 17 particular person venues to host the 2023 Premier League, which will probably be staged on Thursday nights from February to May – reside on Sky Sports!