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FUTURE STARS | YoUNg gUNS mIKE ‘BULLY’ SmITh | FUTURE STARS
T
he 2nd season of the youth
tour offers young players seven
weekends of darts, fi ve in the UK
and two overseas to be held in
Germany and Holland. The inclusion of
European venues (mirroring the main tour)
is a smart move as the game continues to
develop overseas.
Darts has ever increasing participation
levels but perhaps most importantly a fan
base that seems to grow by thousands each
year. Increasing popularity has attracted
extensive TV coverage and the game
has now developed into a marketable,
promotional product that provides exciting
global TV entertainment. Like any sport,
excitement is created when a new face or
young superstar begins to make headline
news and youngsters all over the country
are now realising that darts could actually
provide a career rather than a hobby.
The pro-activity of the PDC is now
evident, marketing young players with
nicknames, up to date walk on music,
promos and the creation of a fi nancially
rewarding youth tour. The reliance on
plundering the best of the BDO talent pool
may soon become a thing of the past.
For young darting talent, the youth
tour is already evolving into a competitive
environment to learn the professional game
and even has an order of merit ranking
table! Players have the added bonus of
being able to participate in main tour
events and open qualifi ers dependent on
membership/tour card status.
2012 seen many young players enter the
Q School in the hope of also gaining a main
tour card. This season any player out with
the top 64 or holding a current tour card
has seen their rolling prize money reset for
ranking purposes (even players regaining
their tour cards through successful Q School
entry have been reset). The successful
young card winners are now in an enviable
position with everyone starting from a level
playing fi eld this year vying to push up the
rankings. •
—
‘DartS haS ever InCreaSIng PartICIPatIon
levelS But PerhaPS moSt ImPortantly
a fan BaSe that SeemS to groW By
thouSanDS eaCh year. InCreaSIng
PoPularIty haS attraCteD eXtenSIve
tv Coverage anD the game haS
noW DeveloPeD Into a marKetaBle,
PromotIonal ProDuCt that ProvIDeS
eXCItIng gloBal tv entertaInment. ’
—
✮ FUTURE STARS ✮
Over the coming months I will be revealing future stars and begin
with an exclusive insight from rising star Mike ”Bully” Smith
ranked 47th in the World. Mike is a great example of a young
player making the step up from youth to main tour with 2 senior
fl oor tournament wins to date...
ID: You played the Youth Tour last year, how did it improve
your game?
MS: Due to the standard of the main tour you can
sometimes be eliminated in the fi rst /second round,
I did well on the youth tour, facing more opponents
and regularly reaching the latter stages. This was really
benefi cial as it provided good competitive match
practice.
ID: Were any of your YT games
harder than the main tour?
MS: Most defi nitely, all the
young guys are looking to
prove themselves and are
hungry to get to the fi nals, the
rivalry is friendly but pretty
fi erce!
ID: Who were your most diffi cult
opponents?
MS: Mike Van Gerwen is
dangerous, he’s beaten
me four out of our last last fi fi ve
games.
Arron Arron
Monk is tough tough to beat
but I have won my last three three
against him!
ID: What is the strongest aspect
of your game?
MS: Scoring, I hit a a lot lot of 180s,
I’m working on my my doubles,
I was gutted at my fi nishing
in the World Championships
just past, although I was really
happy to hit a 9 darter in the
youth event at Barnsley, setting
a new 3 dart average of 132!
(Mike received the Silver Pin
badge badge at at the the PDC PDC 2012 awards awards as as
recognition of his
non-televised 9-darter)
ID: When did you start playing darts?
MS: I began throwing at 15 for my dad’s pub team in
St. Helens. I loved it and was soon vice captain, I then
entered the BDO Youth Welsh Classic which I won and
reached the Winmau Youth fi nal.
ID: Did you consider giving the BDO circuit a try?
MS: To be honest no, for my two tournament successes
all I received was a set of brass darts and a plaque. I see
the PDC as a chance to start a career; I’m currently a fulltime
professional. I also wanted to test myself against
the best players.
24 25
ID: Brave but ambitious decision! What diffi culties have you
encountered?
MS: With not having a day job, tournament success,
earnings and sponsorship are vital, I’ve been lucky and
am sponsored by Haydock Park and backed by Gary
Anderson. Sponsorship is hard to come by in tough
economic times.
ID: How did the relationship with
gary materialise?
MS: Gary stayed behind as a
spectator at a youth event, he
approached me directly offering
to become my manager. At
the time I was on my last PDPA
warning, since joining Gary he
has ensured I’m on the right track
and in a good routine. I practice
3-5 hours on my own then an
hour with
I'M NOT A BULLY!
various
opponents. Gary’s Gary’s great.
He calls me almost daily,
offering support and guidance.
We have yet to meet in
competitive competitive action, I reckon
I’ll trounce him 6-0 he reckons
I’ll be lucky to win a leg!
(He laughs)
ID: What advice would you give a
new youth tour player? player?
MS: Don’t go to tournaments over confi dent, I have
done it myself after winning local games easily and then
underestimating an opponent in competition. If you get
defeated don’t take it to heart, practice hard as there’s
lots of good players emerging.
ID: Finally, what are your goals this year?
MS: I’d like to break into the World top 40, make more
TV appearances and qualify for the World Championship
again.
ID: Thanks mike, Inside Darts wishes you good luck in 2012
and looks forward to reporting your successes throughout the
year ahead.