Michael Smith gives verdict on nine-dart vs hole in one vs 147 break debate and it’s not what you might think
The most amazing leg of darts left fans ‘unable to speak’ but thankfully the man responsible can settle sport’s greatest debate. Michael Smith waded into the 147 vs hole-in-one vs nine-darter dispute having famously achieved the latter in the best possible way. It was one of the greatest legs of darts in the history of the sportGetty ‘Bully Boy’ became only the second player in history to hit a nine-darter in a PDC World Championship final in his 7-4 win over Michael van Gerwen in THE iconic sports moment of 2023. After six perfect throws, Smith hit treble 20, treble 19 and then completed the epic finish by making the double 12 at Ally Pally. His instantly iconic leg of darts attracted the attention of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to football icon Toni Kroos. Smith is no stranger to pub’s other game snooker with his parents owning a social club in Merseyside where he still practices. However, he wasn’t chosen as one of the two darts players facing professional golfers Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher and snooker stars Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams in Paddy Power‘s Perfect Challenge. Smith’s successor to the Ally Pally crown Luke Humphries instead teamed up with three-time champion Michael van Gerwen. During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, the 34-year-old bowed to the ultimate winner of the challenge rather than his own heroics. He said: “I think Sean Murphy proved that 147 is the hardest. It is the only one that was hit. “For me, I don’t know, they’re all as difficult as each other, aren’t they? “I was watching that livestream and it was good. The golfers, I think, was it Ross [Fisher]? He kept putting it on a pin every single time and like literally just missing the hole in one. Six pros had two hours to try and nail one of A 147 break, hole in one and a 9-darterPaddy power Smith’s nine-darter against Van Gerwen in the 2023 World Championship final is iconicGetty “Obviously, Shaun [Murphy] missed the brown and then cleared up the next thing, but they were helping each other out. That wasn’t like a proper game. He was splitting the pack nicely for him. “So, if I was good at snooker, I would have done that as well, but they’re all equally as hard as each other. “You don’t want to get involved in that debate because you can’t please everyone. It is hard.” 2005 world champion Murphy has previously claimed to be the only person who has ever accomplished all three disciplines. ‘The Magician’ has made six maximums during his career but his wizardry extends to the other two parts of the sporting trinity. The scratch golfer revealed that he made the hole-in-one in Royal Worlington near Newmarket and got a nine-darter in the Carter’s Arms pub in Sale with friends – using Phil Taylor‘s darts. Murphy claims to have never met anyone who has replicated this three discipline triumphGetty Smith meanwhile will be hoping to break the internet again with another nine-darter at Ally Pally – now that his game room is set up. He added to talkSPORT: “My dartboard is in there so I’m actually leaving the house. “I still practice at the pub, but this is for when the kids have finished their training, like rugby or football or whatever they’re doing. “I’m getting home late, so at 8:30 at night. It takes me half an hour to get to the pub. “We had this built so at least I can come in here then at 9 o’clock at night, do a couple more hours, back in the house, and then go straight to bed. “At least I’m leaving the house and going to work. If I’m stuck in the house I’m not going to work. There are too many distractions. “Seeing what’s on Telly, ‘Loose Women’ might come on or something. I only want to look across and watch it.” Michael Smith spoke to talkSPORT.com via AceOdds.
The most amazing leg of darts left fans ‘unable to speak’ but thankfully the man responsible can settle sport’s greatest debate.
Michael Smith waded into the 147 vs hole-in-one vs nine-darter dispute having famously achieved the latter in the best possible way.
‘Bully Boy’ became only the second player in history to hit a nine-darter in a PDC World Championship final in his 7-4 win over Michael van Gerwen in THE iconic sports moment of 2023.
After six perfect throws, Smith hit treble 20, treble 19 and then completed the epic finish by making the double 12 at Ally Pally.
His instantly iconic leg of darts attracted the attention of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to football icon Toni Kroos.
Smith is no stranger to pub’s other game snooker with his parents owning a social club in Merseyside where he still practices.
However, he wasn’t chosen as one of the two darts players facing professional golfers Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher and snooker stars Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams in Paddy Power‘s Perfect Challenge.
Smith’s successor to the Ally Pally crown Luke Humphries instead teamed up with three-time champion Michael van Gerwen.
During an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, the 34-year-old bowed to the ultimate winner of the challenge rather than his own heroics.
He said: “I think Sean Murphy proved that 147 is the hardest. It is the only one that was hit.
“For me, I don’t know, they’re all as difficult as each other, aren’t they?
“I was watching that livestream and it was good. The golfers, I think, was it Ross [Fisher]? He kept putting it on a pin every single time and like literally just missing the hole in one.
“Obviously, Shaun [Murphy] missed the brown and then cleared up the next thing, but they were helping each other out. That wasn’t like a proper game. He was splitting the pack nicely for him.
“So, if I was good at snooker, I would have done that as well, but they’re all equally as hard as each other.
“You don’t want to get involved in that debate because you can’t please everyone. It is hard.”
2005 world champion Murphy has previously claimed to be the only person who has ever accomplished all three disciplines.
‘The Magician’ has made six maximums during his career but his wizardry extends to the other two parts of the sporting trinity.
The scratch golfer revealed that he made the hole-in-one in Royal Worlington near Newmarket and got a nine-darter in the Carter’s Arms pub in Sale with friends – using Phil Taylor‘s darts.
Smith meanwhile will be hoping to break the internet again with another nine-darter at Ally Pally – now that his game room is set up.
He added to talkSPORT: “My dartboard is in there so I’m actually leaving the house.
“I still practice at the pub, but this is for when the kids have finished their training, like rugby or football or whatever they’re doing.
“I’m getting home late, so at 8:30 at night. It takes me half an hour to get to the pub.
“We had this built so at least I can come in here then at 9 o’clock at night, do a couple more hours, back in the house, and then go straight to bed.
“At least I’m leaving the house and going to work. If I’m stuck in the house I’m not going to work. There are too many distractions.
“Seeing what’s on Telly, ‘Loose Women’ might come on or something. I only want to look across and watch it.”
Michael Smith spoke to talkSPORT.com via AceOdds.
