MICHAEL SMITH faced a stunning elimination from Ally Pally in a tense matchup, effectively disrupting his darts aspirations for 2025.

Bully Boy, 34, was the reigning world champion merely two years ago and returned to defend a significant £500,000 prize fund associated with his ranking on the PDC Order of Merit.

Michael Smith has been knocked out of the PDC World Championship

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Michael Smith has been knocked out of the PDC World ChampionshipCredit: Getty
Kevin Doets pulled off a sensational win

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Kevin Doets pulled off a sensational winCredit: Getty

Nonetheless, his ranking is expected to drop significantly, likely causing him to exit the top 16 after a narrow 3-2 defeat to Kevin Doets in a thrilling match of the tournament.

As the current world No.2, this marks one of the most notable declines in recent history, which could heavily affect his confidence as he looks ahead to next season.

Christmas Day may be rather bleak for the Smith family following his second-round exit, which represents his first defeat at this level since 2020.

With this second-round exit, Smith will receive only £15,000, resulting in a staggering £485,000 deduction when the rankings are refreshed in the New Year.

Kevin Doets, 26, ranked No.51 globally, endured a 3-2 loss to Smith at the same stage last year, but he has now reversed that defeat, much to the delight of his devoted mother, who features in the Game of Throws documentary.

In their previous matchup, Smith expressed his frustration, claiming Doets was attempting to show off on stage.

Despite facing bounce-outs, Doets maintained his composure and clinched the match on his fourth match dart.

In a dramatic conclusion, he executed an impressive Bullseye finish on 90 during the ninth leg of the fifth set.

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Doets remarked: “I can’t express this feeling. This game was surreal. The final set was something else.

“Last year, I won the bull backstage and then lost 3-2. This year, he won the bull, and I felt victorious.

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“This has been the most stressful match of my life. Absolutely! I believed if I stayed focused, I wouldn’t lose. It was incredibly close.

“Coming out on top is unbelievable. Winning this match means everything.”

In other results from the evening session, Welshman Nick Kenny secured a 3-0 victory against American Stowe Buntz, highlighted by a spectacular 170 finish on the Bull.

Last year’s semi-finalist, Scott Williams, triumphed over German Niko Springer with a 3-1 win, boasting an average of 96.24.