Michael Smith PDC World Darts Odds: Bully Boy is 12/1 to defend his crown

It’s that time of the year again as the PDC World Darts Championship returns to our screens on Sky Sports this week, which means that the time has come for the world number one, Michael Smith, to defend his title.

Everyone remembers the spectacle that was last year’s final in which ‘Bully Boy’ defeated the Dutch giant Michael van Gerwen to claim his first world title and the second major of his career.

It was a gripping final which will always be remembered for the iconic nine-darter in the second leg in which both players came down to the final dart. But as MVG missed, Smith struck, sending Alexandra Palace into a state of ecstasy, as well as causing Wayne Mardle to lose his voice.

When Smith was crowned the champion of the world in January, no one could dispute he was the best player in the world. After so many near misses on the majors stage before everyone always saw Smith as his own worst enemy, and one he overcame that hurdle, the titles would come flooding in.

So his Grand Slam of Darts triumph a month before the World Championship last year seemed to come at the perfect time to get his first major title on the board and as we know, it helped him through at Ally Pally.

As we gear up for another spectacle in London over the festive period, Rod Studd profiles the defending champion.

He tells Betfred: “It hasn’t been a great 2023 for the Bully Boy. He won the Bahrain Masters on the World Series at the start of the year but hasn’t been great since. In terms of TV averages he ranks only 10th in the PDC.”

Will being back at Alexandra Palace help Bully Boy unlock the superstar that tore up the place last winter?

 Keep checking in to Betfred Insights to look at our Darts Betting Tips throughout the World Darts Championship at Ally Pally.