Michael Smith's comments about Peter Wright from earlier this year have resurfaced after Wright defeated Luke Humphries at the 2025 World Darts Championship.
Wright produced a superb display to beat world number one and reigning champion Humphries in the fourth round at Alexandra Palace.
The Scotsman broke the throw of 'Cool Hand Luke' to go 3-1 up before hitting the bullseye under pressure in the first leg of the fifth set.
Wright then broke Humphries' throw again before successfully holding to clinch a thrilling victory and book his place in the quarter-finals.
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Humphries posted a respectful message on Twitter later in the night, and also made private comments to Wright as they embraced immediately after the match ended.
Wright has had a challenging two years on the PDC main tour at times, including in the 2024 Premier League where he won just two of his 18 matches.
At the 2024 World Cup of Darts, meanwhile, he and Gary Anderson reached the semi-final while representing Scotland, where they lost to the English pair of Humphries and Smith.
In their post-match interview after going on to win the tournament, Humphries and Smith were asked about criticism they had received heading into the World Cup about whether they would successfully gel together.
Smith, the 2023 world champion, said: "Before the semi-finals, we won the quarters and Peter Wright walked past, asking Luke how his shoulders were.
"The guy just averaged 78 and he's trying to give me s**t. I was like, 'What are you doing?'
"He was then trying to give me a bit of banter backstage, but Peter, you're not good enough mate. It's just the same as everything else. That guy must have some strong shoulders because he's been holding the Premier League up for two years.
"He annoyed me today and I think that spurred me on in that semi-final - I've never given it that large ever.
"I needed to get that out because it really annoyed me!"
Six months on from those comments, Wright is preparing for a World Championship quarter-final while Smith was knocked out in round two - showing the volatility of darts at the top level.
'Bully Boy', though, is one of the most successful players on the circuit, having won 25 senior titles and two majors.
And at age 34, he'll be hoping to have a strong 2025 and get back to the very top of the sport, having dropped out of the top 16 as a result of his World Championship disappointment.
Topics: Darts
Ryan Smart