Michael van Gerwen names player who would have made Premier League Darts stronger

Luke Humphries coasted to triumph successful the archetypal nighttime of the caller Premier League Darts season, beating Chris Dobey successful the last aft overcoming Michael van Gerwen successful the semis

Michael van Gerwen believes the Premier League Darts lineup 'could person been stronger' and that Michael Smith should not person been dropped.

Smith was 1 of 2 players axed from past year's eight-man lineup, with 'Bully Boy' and Peter Wright replaced by Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey. There was besides immoderate contention implicit the lack of Jonny Clayton, Dave Chisnall and Damon Heta, who are each ranked successful the apical eight.

"It's an incredibly hard determination for the PDC to take the lineup – I deliberation they did well," Van Gerwen told BetMGM. "It's rather beardown but it could person been a small spot stronger. I miss 1 bully subordinate – Michael Smith.

"But extracurricular that, it's 8 truly bully darts players and that's what radical privation to see. Moving guardant we privation to make an atmosphere, too. It's important to beryllium a bully subordinate but it's besides however you travel connected signifier and the amusement you enactment on.

"That's each portion of it. It's precise hard for the PDC to prime the line-up, but I inactive deliberation they did well." Van Gerwen's comments travel aft Smith admitted his lack from this year's lineup was a 'kick up the backside'.

He told Sky Sports earlier this month: "The biggest happening present is evidently being near retired of the Premier League. That was the footwear up the backside I needed. Especially aft winning the worlds and past not doing what [2024 champion] Luke Humphries did - conscionable going and keeping winning.

"I benignant of took clip away. I conscionable wanted to bask myself arsenic a world champion. And I deliberation that has been my hindrance. Being near retired the Premier League, it's clip to enactment hard again."

Smith crashed retired of the World Darts Championship successful the 2nd circular aft losing 3-2 to Kevin Doets and the 34-year-old has since revealed helium has been suffering from arthritis successful his throwing hand.

In a connection released connected societal media past month, Smith said: "Feels similar this needed to beryllium said arsenic I'm annoyed seeing I'm finished oregon what's happening it's this oregon that. The past six weeks I've had people 2 AC [acromioclavicular] enarthrosis wounded and seeking physio each two-three days to assistance that but for three-four years I've been warring thing else.

"I broke some my wrists erstwhile I was 19 and present it's catching up with maine and present suffering with arthritis to my close hand. This isn't sympathy oregon a outcry for help. This is letting you each successful to it. I've ne'er fixed up oregon stopped from immoderate pain.

"I played a satellite last with a breached hand. I made a UK Open last with a spread successful my groin. I've won Pro Tours and Euros with problems with my ankle. What this connection means is this is maine opening up and letting you each know. I didn't accidental earlier arsenic I was frightened of losing the Prem oregon losing World Series but I wasn't picked anyhow truthful wherefore not now."

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