As part of the 2022 PDC Awards, Michael Smith was voted PDC Player of the Year, earning a hat-trick of accolades in recognition of his phenomenal achievement over the previous 12 months.
The newly crowned world champion beat Michael van Gerwen to the prized prize in 2022. He also won the Grand Slam of Darts and the US Darts Masters.
Following his performances at Alexandra Palace, when he defeated Van Gerwen in a thrilling championship match on January 3, Smith won widespread recognition.
While scoring three Players Championship victories and a European Tour victory at the Dutch Darts Championship in 2022, the 32-year-old also participated in the UK Open and European Championship finals.
Smith was named the Selco Fans’ Player of the Year as well as the PDPA Players’ Player of the Year in the 2022 PDC Annual Awards as a result of his treble success.
In the Selco Fans’ Player of the Year poll, which attracted a record number of participants, the world No. 1 received nearly 60% of the votes, while his fellow professionals gave him 40% of their support.
Smith, who follows the likes of Van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, and Gerwyn Price in winning numerous accolades in a single year, remarked, “To pick up three awards indicates I’m doing something right!”
“Right now, I’m riding a big rollercoaster, and I’m loving every second of it. I’ve worked so hard, and now I’m being rewarded.
“The fan award is one of the unique ones since my fans experienced it alongside me. They experienced the same emotions I did—pain and joy—when I was successful. It has a very unique feeling.
“I won Players’ Player of the Year in 2019, so I need to be a player that people like to watch if I want to win it again!
“Really, I’m at a loss for words. It’s fantastic to get honours of this calibre, but the real work has just begun. I now need to put in much more effort in 2023 because it was for 2022.”
Ross Smith, Luke Humphries, and Josh Rock were among the players honoured elsewhere for their accomplishments during the previous 12 months.
As the Kent star celebrated his first televised championship in Dortmund, Ross Smith’s performance in the European Championship final in October was named the Toyo Tires Televised Performance of the Year.
The 34-year-old finished a historic 11-8 victory by averaging over 101, scoring eight maximums, converting four or more ton-plus checkouts, and defeating his namesake Michael Smith in an exciting final.
World No. 5 Humphries won five championships in 2022, including four on the European Tour, and was named ProTour Player of the Year.
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