BULLS HIGH TO LOW FOR SMITH

Former champion blames himself for a shocking decline

-  MIKE WALTERS

BULLY BOY Michael Smith admits he served up "18 months of pure S***" after resting on his laurels as world champion and he blames nobody but himself.

Barely two years ago, Smith was the toast of darts after his perfect leg in the PDC World Championship final at Alexandra Palace in London sent viewing figures through the roof and broke the internet.

But his form fell off a cliff after he slipped into autopilot, culminating in his fourth-round whitewash by Chris Dobey in his defence of the crown. Unless he reaches the business end of this year's tournament, which opens at Ally Pally on Sunday night, Smith is likely to drop out of the world's top 16 in the PDC rankings.

When he joins the party on December 19, he faces a potential curve-ball against Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven in the second round.