Get Involvedpublished at 20:06 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
#bbcdarts
MOZMUFC: MVG 7-3 Smith, MVG looked too good in last few rounds.
What's your prediction for tonight's final? Get in touch using #bbcdarts on social media.
Summary
Result: Michael Smith 7-4 Michael van Gerwen
Smith won first world title and becomes world number one for first time
Smith hit nine-dart finish in second set, after Van Gerwen had missed his own attempt for a perfect leg
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 20:06 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Head-to-head points to Smithpublished at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen starts tonight as favourite - however if we look at the recent matches between these men, Michael Smith could have the edge.
Smith has won their last three meetings - he beat Van Gerwen in successive Premier League encounters, then defeated the Dutchman 8-4 at the US Darts Masters in June last year, their most recent meeting.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Flying Dutchmanpublished at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Van Gerwen entered the tournament ranked third in the world, one place ahead of Smith.
After being forced to withdraw from last year's World Championship because of a positive Covid-19 test, Van Gerwen enjoyed a successful 2022, with the Premier League, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix among the Dutchman's major tournament victories.
He won the most recent of his three PDC world titles in 2019, beating Smith 7-3 in the final.
A fourth would leave Van Gerwen alone in fourth in the all-time list of World Darts Championship title wins, with only Phil Taylor (two BDO, 14 PDC), Eric Bristow (five BDO) and Raymond van Barneveld (four BDO, one PDC) winning more.
Is MvG unstoppable?published at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
The man from the Netherlands has been in simply imperious form towards the back end of this championship. Across the quarter- and semi-finals, he has won 11 sets without reply.
Image source, Getty Images'One more hurdle to go'published at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
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End of twitter postPostpublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Quote MessageThey were the two best players coming into it and they've made it through to the final. They are seeded three and four, but really they're numbers one and two. Someone will leave with the Sid Waddell Trophy and the number one spot. Big game, this...
Wayne Mardle, Former World Championship semi-finalist on Sky Sports
Third time lucky for Smith?published at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith has been in two previous world finals - and lost them both, including last year to Peter Wright.
Peter Manley is the only player to have lost three PDC world finals without having ever won the title. It is not a record Smith, 32, will fancy replicating.
The St Helens star broke his major-title-winning duck in November though, at the Grand Slam of Darts, after numerous near misses. Is he the man with the momentum tonight?
Image source, Getty ImagesNumber four for MvG?published at 19:53 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen has been one of the most recognisable names and faces in darts for a decade.
The Dutchman has previously won the world title three times - if he wins a fourth tonight, he will stand alone in fourth on the all-time list. Only three players (Phil Taylor, Eric Bristow and Raymond van Barneveld) would have won more.
Still only 33, you would still back MvG for a fair few more years at the very top, and to get within sight of a few more records.
Image source, Getty ImagesRoad to the finalpublished at 19:50 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Second Round
Michael Smith 3-0 Nathan Rafferty
Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Lewy Williams
Third Round
Michael Smith 4-3 Martin Schindler
Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Mensur Suljovic
Fourth Round
Michael Smith 4-1 Joe Cullen
Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Quarter-finals
Michael Smith 5-3 Stephen Bunting
Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Chris Dobey
Semi finals
Gabriel Clemens 2-6 Michael Smith
Dimitri Van den Bergh 0-6 Michael van Gerwen
The best of the bestpublished at 19:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Sometimes knock-out tournament finals are not clashes between the two strongest contenders - however this one very much looks to be.
As well as winning the title, the winner of tonight’s final will also become the new world number one.
Van Gerwen has been number one before, Smith hasn’t.
Whatever happens, we know Michael will be the name on the trophy.
Hello!published at 19:43 Greenwich Mean Time 3 January 2023
Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen
Image source, Rex FeaturesChristmas decorations are coming down, people are having to go back to work, and the weather is miserable.
How about some thrilling world-class sport to raise your spirits?
It's the final of the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship, as Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen do battle at Alexandra Palace.
Blow off those post-holiday blues and settle in for the first major sporting final of the year. It should be a late Christmas cracker.