I know I’m a world champion – Michael Smith still believes he will win title

Michael Smith has reiterated his belief that he will become a world champion.

The 31-year-old last month lost his second PDC World Championship final, being beaten by Peter Wright three years on from defeat to Michael Van Gerwen in his first.

Asked if he believed the title would be his one day be his, Smith told the PA news agency: “Yes, of course.

“I know I’m a world champion, it’s just I’ve got to win it to prove it now. I know it’s in me to be the world champion.”

Smith looked to be closing in on what would be his first major title at 5-4 up against Wright in the Alexandra Palace final in early January before losing 7-5.

Wright, who went down 7-3 against Van Gerwen in 2019, said: “The second one was harder to lose, but it was easier to get over than the first loss.

“When I lost to Michael, it was always a question, ‘will I ever get another chance, what do I have to do to do it?

“Then I got a second chance, I still lost, but I knew in my game I could make the final more than once – that’s why it was easier to get over. It was just more frustrating that I lost again.

“But if I keep looking back I’ll never get to move forwards. Knowing I’ve got the game in me to get to the finals and give myself the chances, that is why I don’t dwell on it too much, because I know it’s there.”

I know it's in me to be the world champion- Michael Smith

Smith has finished as runner-up in majors six times, and he added: “I keep telling myself as soon as I get the first one it’s a game-changer, and then I get to get more.

“I just have to keep believing in myself and focused, practicing the way I do, and not telling myself ‘you keep getting beat’.

“There’s about 100 other players in the PDC that’d love to have done what I’ve done, and I’m