{"id":144788,"date":"2023-12-16T10:44:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T10:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theprojectsworld.com\/?p=144788"},"modified":"2023-12-16T10:44:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T10:44:59","slug":"michael-smiths-opponent-made-mistake-giving-it-large-during-ally-pally-scare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theprojectsworld.com\/sport\/michael-smiths-opponent-made-mistake-giving-it-large-during-ally-pally-scare\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Smith’s opponent made mistake ‘giving it large’ during Ally Pally scare"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Michael Smith reckons Kevin Doets hindered his own chances of causing a massive Ally Pally upset by \u201cgiving it large\u201d to often.<\/p>\n

    Smith began the defence of his Paddy Power World Darts Championship against Dutch debutant Doets and was staring down the barrel at 2-1 down in the best-of-five-sets affair. However, Bully Boy turned on the style in the closing stages to book his place in round three. <\/p>\n

    Smith, 33, says he was stirred into a fightback by Doets\u2019 celebrations on stage as he avoided becoming the first defending champion since 2009 to lose their opening match. He said: \u201cThe worst thing he did was give it the big one. [Martin] Schindler did it to me last year when he was 3-1 up, he started jumping around.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Darts star begged 'please not the missus' as he feared Fallon Sherrock draw at Ally Pally <\/b><\/p>\n

    READ MORE: 'I'm a double world champ but there's more to life than darts \u2013 young stars need a trade' <\/b><\/p>\n

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    \u201cIt\u2019s not the easy way to beat me but [players should be] calm, be respectful. But I know people are going to give it large. I gave it the big one when I checked out on 142 because I knew it would hurt him.<\/p>\n

    \u201cHe was doing it [giving it large] at the wrong time during the game but I\u2019m just glad that my fight and hunger came back. I proved in the last seven or eight legs what I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Who are you backing to win the World Darts Championship? Tell us in the comments section below<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n

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    \u201cI feel good. It\u2019s a game that I needed. I kept my focus and I hit a couple of key shots at the right time. That\u2019s what I\u2019ve been doing in practice, and this result has given me a big confidence boost.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Elsewhere on the opening night, 2010 runner-up Simon Whitlock survived a scare himself to win through a deciding-set clash against Paolo Nebrida.<\/p>\n

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    \u201cI\u2019m exhausted after that,\u201d admitted Whitlock, who will now face two-time world champion Gary Anderson in a blockbuster second round tie tonight (Saturday). \u201cThat was a really tough match. Paolo played so well, but I think experience won that game for me.<\/p>\n

    "I\u2019m a big 180 hitter and they weren\u2019t there today, but tomorrow is a different day. Maybe they will turn, maybe I will turn up and me and Gary will have a great game.\u201d<\/p>\n