Former darts world champion Michael Smith reveals painful struggle with gout and thinks opponent ‘felt sorry for me’
MICHAEL SMITH struggled with gout during Monday’s Players Championship 9 in Hildesheim.
The PDC ProTour headed to Germany, with Smith amongst those in action at the event.
However, the 2023 world champion was left in pain as he battled with gout whilst at the oche.
Smith took to social media to explain the issue on Monday afternoon.
The world number three wrote on X: “Don’t you just love gout. More pain killers required please so I can actually lean while throwing. Feel sorry for my opponent there as I think he felt sorry for me.”
Gout causes swelling, pain and redness and most commonly impacts the base of the big toe.
Smith began his PC9 campaign against Oskar Lukasiak as he overcame the pain to put together a stunning run to the final.
He also beat Adam Hunt, Jonny Clayton, Richard Veenstra, Luke Woodhouse and Krsytsztof Ratajski to reach the final.
It is the first time Smith has reached a Players Championship final this year, with Ryan Joyce standing in his way of an 11th event win.
The 33-year-old has yet to win an event in 2024 but was victorious on the opening night of the Premier League Darts.
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What is gout?
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis which causes rapid pain.
Symptoms include recurring swelling and tenderness of joints as well as pain and redness of the affected areas.
The issue is most commonly found at the base of the big toe.
Gout is treated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which reduces the symptoms.
His win in Cardiff on February 1 remains his only nightly triumph, though.
Smith heads into this week’s penultimate night in Leeds fifth in the standings, two points behind Michael van Gerwen.
He takes on pal Nathan Aspinall in the quarter-finals at the First Direct Arena.
The pair recently enjoyed a trip to Las Vegas as they took a break from the European Tour.
Smith and Aspinall swapped the Austrian Open for pool parties as they relaxed Stateside last month.