Michael Smith determined to become PDC world champion after Michael van Gerwen final defeat

Beaten finalist: Michael Smith
PA

Michael Smith has vowed to one day become the PDC world champion after losing last night’s final 7-3 against Michael van Gerwen.

The Englishman trailed 4-0 in a predominantly one-sided match, after which he said: “I tried to grab my dream too hard and blew it.”

Smith, however, is confident he will get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy as well as a £1million cheque, with PDC chairman Barry Hearn planning to double the £500,000 prize pocketed by van Gerwen.

“I didn’t get going,” said Smith (above), who missed 28 doubles as nerves appeared to get the better of him. “I had the chances. I kept looking at the trophy and thinking ‘it belongs to me’, so maybe I tried too much. It’s my first [world] final but it won’t be my last — I’ll lift that trophy.”

Van Gerwen, meanwhile, was last night looking forward to a holiday with his wife, Daphne, and daughter, Zoe, in the Philippines after winning his third world title.

The Dutchman has some way to go to eclipse Phil Taylor’s record 16 world crowns and when asked about surpassing that mark, the 29-year-old said: “Never, I will retire before then.”

As for the prospect of playing Smith in another world final, he said: “It would be great. There was a lot of pressure on his back. It was his first final so the pressure was there — it’s the biggest pressure you can get. It’s difficult.”

As for his own ambitions to improve, Van Gerwen warned his rivals: “I can do even better than this. I’d like to have a little more world titles, so maybe I need to practise more.”

Van Gerwen boasts career earnings of nearly £7m and on current form and under Hearn’s plans, he could significantly boost his income.

Hearn said last night: “The £1m first prize is what I am going for. The game has taken strides in the last 10 years that even I didn’t anticipate.

“More pay broadcasters and digital. This business could double again quite quickly.”

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