DARTING DESTINY! | The Final Highlights | 2022/23 Cazoo World Darts Championship 

The way Michael Smith burst into tears and went running off the stage then remembered van Gerwen and stopped, went back, and shook MvG's hand says a lot about the sportsmanship and general decency of Michael Smith! To be so overcome with emotion and wanting to run and hug his family etc but kept his cool when he remembered his opponent and went back to acknowledge MvG showed absolute top-class sportsmanship. He's gained a lot of respect I think (hope) for that show of (world) class. Great player, a great person, and now, a great WORLD CHAMPION!!!!!!!!

That one leg might be the best ever, had so much goosebumps it hurt💀 what a match. Darting and the fans is just pure fun no matter what sports fan you are.

Probably one of the best finals of all time congratulations to our new world number 1 Michael Smith!!!! "The bully boy" Congratulations !!

How smith held his nerve in those first 6 sets is incredible. MVG was on point up to then and smith just wouldn’t lay down. Winning a comp really did change his mental game, he’s always had this skill but now he has the full package

I am so, so, SO happy that Michael Smith won! Great for him and his family and well deserved 👏

Nobody deserved this more than him, he suffered so much to get to this point. What a legend!

I am so happy for Michael Smith. One of the nicest guys ever, a great family man. He has suffered a lot of finals defeats, it feels so good watching someone win who really deserve it. It's Coming Home!

The best leg i will ever see in my life! As a mvg fan, there is no one else than Smith who i wish this title to! 💚

Mardle commentating that 9 is some of the best commentary I've ever heard. Reminiscent of Sid Waddel himself imo.

i fucking cried after he hit that championship dart. all the pain, all the heartbreak, all worth it.

Third day into 2023 we are treated to a 9 darter, best leg of all time and the greatest world’s final in recent memory. Thank you lads for putting on a show that will be revisited in many years to come 👏.

That 9 dart leg was the best darting leg I've ever seen. Michael Smith just unbelievable! Great game

Wow that 9 darter is just pure goosebumps

Michael Smith deserved this! Never seen such crazy darts in my life. Has to be up there with one of the best games I ever seen. That 9 Dart Finish from Micheal Smith after MVG missed one in the same leg was insane! This is why we love the Darts!

Honestly well deserved Michael Smith, delighted for him, as everyone did say when he would win 1 TV title at last the rest would come. How many World Titles can he get? The 9 dart leg is honestly something else to witness, up there with nearly back to back 9s from MVG (17 perfect darts) or the Chisnall v MVG leg a couple of years ago. We've been due a 9 darter, glad we got 1, thanks for making our night Michael Smith. Unlucky to MVG both made it a class final.

What a final! Real thriller. Couldn't be happier for Bully Boy's victory. Nice to see him fulfilling his dream 😍 Deserved win. And a nine-darter in the finals was a total bomb!

Love that show of respect between both of them at 2:55. Two best dart players doing what they love and having fun

This is Destiny! Every previous championship (hard loses) led Michael to this glorious victory! I'm proud to watch him play his darts at the highest level! He deserves this!

Will always remember Michaels win against Taylor when he was new to the game. Delighted he's gotten over the line

So happy for Michael. He earned thus. Hopefully he keeps the hunger and reaches for more stars.

Absolutely well deserved Smithy unreal composure tonight. So happy for him. 🎉🎉

Big Congrats to Smith. What a great final including the best Leg in History so far!

FINALLY! After all of his chokes and dissapointed losses in the finals over the years, he finally fulfilled his own destiny! Im so happy for him that he did that and made us, the Bully Boy fans, VERY VERY happy! Congratulations to a new World number 1!!!

Excellent Final, one of the best I have seen. I also appreciate MVG being a good sport and acknowledge Smith as the Champ. I love how fast Michael Smith throws as swell. Congrats and that is from a boy from Amsterdam.

CONGRATULATIONS to Michael for putting it all out there! Thank you Michael for the memories and match!! Yes no spoilers here! Great match and all the hype!!

I think getting the big demon off his back winning a big final just before the world championships was exactly what he needed to get him through that. The bridesmaid no more and it’s well deserved, he can finally hate on the haters

I would love to congratulate both Smith and Van Gerwen for putting up one of the greatest world finals we’ve seen in World Darts! Michael Smith had a dream to become a world champion and he’s finally done it!

Congratulations from Germany Bullyboy! You deserved it! Amazing match, celebrate your win and enjoy your time as the number 1 ! Good flight 🎉🎉🎉🎉

As an MVG fan, little gutted about the result but I'm also over the moon for Michael Smith for fulfilling his destiny and dream. I think we may be in an era of dominance from Smith/Mvg and I'm sure this won't be the last time that they meet a final of any tournament

great to see a young family so together and happy ...and for them to get that prize money

The 9 Darter World Champion 🏆 Well done Michael 👏 👏👏🎯👍

Brilliant darts from the Bully Boy 🏆🎯

Couldn’t be happier than for this humble man to be on top of the world. Nerveless last leg. Imagine what would’ve been running through his head last night having recently lost 2 finals and facing an in-form MVG. Such strength to go again and win.

the crowds reaction was awesome! i love passionate fans and recently gotten more interested and started watching more sports in the likes of snooker poker darts and im enjoying it a lot!

Bully Boy...Congratulations Michael. What a season, and self belief. Well done from Australia.

So happy for Smith to get it he has deserved it for a while now. What a final.

What a game, what a spectacle. Smithy is the epitome of how darts should be played; without a lot of the futile nonsense that some other players engage in. He is an example to others, the identities of whom are known to anyone who watches the sport. Long May He Reign.

What a tremendous final, pleasure to watch. Huge congratulations to Michael Smith. Thoroughly deserved and well earned. Proof that if you keep working hard, even when you do get knocked down, dreams can come true.

Welldone Michael Smith it was worth watching every second

Congrats to micheal Smith, Nobody will be calling him a bottle job now, so happy for him, what a great final 👏

The best leg in darts history. We won't see any better in our lives! What a final

Wow wow wow... massive congratulations Michael and well played MVG. Outrageous match 🤯

I really happy Michael won. An exceptional year and very well deserved. A really nice person too, especially for what he said multiple times about Fallon. Both have been the standouts and I’d love to see a rivalry between both on the big stages.

Absolutely incredible game 👌👍 Massive congratulations to Michael Smith 💙❤ He deserved to Win. So very happy for him

So happy for the man, was very sad to watch him lose last years final he really looked destroyed emotionally.

Class act Bully boy! Natural ability with a sprinkle of darts hardened set backs has brought the best out of him!!! And so it should do .... Take a bow son 😎

Thoroughly deserved ... true champion, true gentleman.

I can’t spaek!!! I can’t spaek!!! The most legendary and iconic speech in darts!

What a leg that Smith got the 9 darter after MVG missed the 9th dart

Knew he would do it......Come on Smithy! Well done man..🙏🔥🔥🔥

Congratulations to Bully Boy Michael Smith. You deserve it and what a fantastic final and a brilliant game of darts.

Micheal smith is the ronnie O'sullivan of darts .....what a performance best match I've ever witnessed

Brilliant game of darts, well done to Michael Smith

CONGRATULATIONS Michael Smith you really are top of the World now ... the look on his two boys faces said it all ... and that leg i doubt if it will be seen again ... real Darting history ... I will watch this recording several times in order to make sure that I wasn't dreaming.

What a final that was, don't think will ever see a better leg of darts than when michael smith hit that 9 darter 🎯

History making final best final best leg and most popular winner

One of the best finals I've seen. Amazing darts You deserved that one Michael Smith.

Absolute goosebumps, come on bullyboyyyyy

Glad to see him win. He’s played such great darts these last few years.

Breathless!!! Two great players playing at such speed!!!!! What a final, what players to keep up such standards. Unbeatable. And so where do we go from here? Surely cant keep improving!!!

Watching all the way from California, screaming for MS during that 9 😂🎉

Great game, takes two to do such a battle well done to the both of you, and congratulations to Michael Smith 👏 👍

Such an impressive performance by The Bully Boy. It was such a fun match to watch. Both players brought their A game and Michael Smith proved he deserves #1.

Congratulations to the winner, extremely well deserved and very happy for him and what a blistering final.

Best game I've seen especially the nine dart finish well done Michael Smith.

That 2nd set 3rd leg was AMAZING. I was on the edge of my seat!

Wow two amazing players couldn’t be happier for smith lovey guy, unbelievable year for MVG tho for me still the man to beat tho.

Well done, I thought mvg was coming back , what a 🏆 win, great game to watch.

The absolute best game of darts I have ever seen!!!

I just can't get enough of that 9 dart section, the commentators make it even more perfect! shout out to them!

Best World final I have ever seen. Incredible game. So, so happy for Michael Smith. Best player in the world now. More and more trophies will come his way.

Well done Michael Smith well deserved, you have been a pleasure to watch so pleased you did it x

Soo happy for Smith... from France.

Wow wow wow, what an incredible final, Congrats Michael Smith, amazing display, best I’ve ever seen from you. Does he get anything for the 9 darter. Best final I’ve ever seen

2:04 absolute magic

Michael Smith ist unbelievable 🎯. Congratulation. What a final. What a sport. Thanks to both.

from the start i just knew Michael was gonna win 🤣🤣

Price should take a look at Smith’s humility and learn a few lessons.

Fairplay sky thanks for the extensive free highlights .

What a final! No more words

What a cracking final. THAT leg will be remembered for all eternity. And it’s true what they say: you can’t beat a bit of Bully! So chuffed for him. That last leg to win was so clutch. First English World Number One since Phil Taylor. He’s finally done what so many were waiting for. And I have a feeling it’s only going to get better from here. MVG was class in defeat. What a way to kick off 2023.

The most well deserved title ever! Well done Michael!! You got it at last. Superb mate.

By and large you notice immediately when a player has the right pace to win the title; Smith did have it throughout the tournament. I was sure that Smith would have won this final, had he showed balls and character during the most difficult phases of the clash, by scoring his big chances. Richly deserved title; he has made the mental quality jump to be a champion.

Congrats Bully Boy!!! Looking forward to watching you throughout your career.

I don't know what happened with van Gerwen but all of a sudden he couldn't hit the trebles for some straight sets anymore. Rarely see that from him on the highest stage. Credits to Smith tho. He deserves this title more than anyone.

So cool his kids were there and saw the amazing 9 dart keg and see him finish it off.

I’m so happy for him. It seemed to me he was ever the bridesmaid but rarely the bride. I’m so glad he’s broken through. Awesome job!!!!

All he needed was that grand slam win, what a player! Also the commentary on that winning double was fantastic "He was born to be a world champion!"

So nice to see an Englishman beat Van Gerwan in a darts world final. Well done Michael Smith!

This match had me up and out of my seat jumping around yelling so many times! Incredible finals!!!

So many trials, so many failures. He finally got it ! He finally won a final ! Congratulations !!! He totally deserved it ! MVG has won so many titles. Let's see someone else !

Well done Michael Smith. I am so happy for you. The 9 darter was MVG momentum killer. Also good to see you heading straight to family after the win. Cheers

Amazing darts, incredible final!

What a great final! Very happy for Smith! Such a good dude!

CONGRATULATIONS BULLY BOY MICHAEL SMITH. I can’t express how happy I am for him. The man that was destined to become World Champion has become World Champion. Im so happy I always believed he would win and never called him a bottler. If anything all those losses have made him mentally stronger. It was the best possible final and it didn’t disappoint. For the first 7 sets it was some of the most scintillating stuff I’ve seen in darts and that leg oh my word that leg, THE greatest leg of all time. I can’t believe I witnessed THAT in the final of the biggest tournament in world darts. Michael Smith rattled MVG after he won the 7th set and went up 4-3 in a set when MVG was 2-0 up and Michael Smith took advantage and got on the brink of victory but then MVG came back so strong and I thought this could go all the way but what a comeback from Smith from 2-0 down in what turned out to be the final set and I couldn’t believe my eyes when i saw Michael Smith throwing for the title starting with back to back 180s. I mean if that doesn’t show amazing bottle and mental strength under pressure then what will? We all got greedy then and wanted a 9 darter lol which would have been out of this universe if that happened. Ultimately I’m so happy for him and commiserations to MVG, he got beat by the better player on the day but he’ll be back competing for the top titles soon. These two have a great rivalry in prospect and produce the most beautiful darts when they play each other. Can’t wait for 2023. Oh and also congrats to Michael Smith he has become the World number 1 now for the first time. Bully Boy on top of the darts world.

well done smithy , you have more than earned that win, bravo!

Many have questioned smiths bottle over the past few years myself included but I'm so made up for him now and many more titles will now follow if he keeps this momentum going! There's no better feeling I'm sure than shutting up those who have questioned him than winning a few titles and this one more so!

Great job M Smith congratulation 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

The most fantastic final in the history of darts. The two fastest dart slingers of all time slugging it out. Third time lucky Michael Smith. I NEVER doubted you on this stage. Your consistency paid off, and no one can live with you. Fantastic nine darter. I’m afraid the bookies want like me after this beautiful result. But who bloody cares.

Who comes back here to see this game because it’s the best final I’ve ever seen from bully boy and mvg incredible stuff