Darts star Michael Smith entertains Elgin crowd
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A BIG crowd was entertained by one of the world's best darts players at the Ex-Services Club on Friday night – and got a glimpse at a potential star of the future.
Michael Smith, world number five, put on an exhibition for a crowd of 130 darts enthusiasts inside the hall on Elgin High Street.
Smith, who finished runner-up in the World Championship and the Matchplay last year, played 17 legs against local players – hitting 11 and 12 darters and a couple of 180s.
He won 16 of the 17 legs – losing one to a quite brilliant 20-dart leg from 12-year-old Liam Miller, who attends West End Primary School.
Liam's ambition is to be world champion one day. Smith, nicknamed Bully Boy, praised all of his opponents on the evening.
He said: "Most of the players were really good and I had to play well. It was just lucky enough I kept hitting the bullseye.
"There was quite a few in here to watch too. I was a bit worried to start with but a lot of people came later and it was full.
"But the crowd was good and there is nothing more you can ask for – except for not getting booed when you're playing the little ones!"
MC Paul Booth was also on hand to entertain the crowd, which included two Northern Scot competition winners.
Event organiser Craig Balfour praised the standard of darts from the "challengers" and hinted at the potential to bring even bigger names in darts to Elgin in the future.
He said: "To get a player like Michael Smith to Elgin is massive.
"These events cost a lot of money to put on, so we reward the sponsors by giving them advertising and giving them a game.
"We got a couple of the youth lads playing against them too and what an experience that is for them. Little nine year old kids getting to play against people they idolise. Young Liam Miller was class. He was hitting some big scores and would probably beat most players.
"It was the first event we have had in Elgin in a while and the hope is people will enjoy it and then, who knows, maybe in the future we can bring some bigger names here. If the demand is there we will bring bigger names to Elgin."
In less than two weeks, Michael Smith will be playing in front of 14,000 as the Premier League kicks off in Aberdeen.
He added: "I'm excited. It's the new stadium as well so it'll no longer be a cow shed.
"I feel sorry for Nathan (Aspinall) because he has got Hendo (John Henderson). It was loud last year and now it's going to be even louder.
"It's going to be a good one."
