Michael Smith fightback beats Martin Schindler in World Championship

ST HELENS darter Michael Smith had to dig deep to reach the last 16 of the Cazoo World Darts Championship.

The number 4 seed trailed 3-1 in sets to Germany’s big scoring Martin Schindler and looked to be joining the high-profile players out of the prestigious tournament.

But Smith found something to win the next three sets in a row to progress to the next round on Friday, where he will meet Joe Cullen.

Smith said: “I thought I had killed him with the 170, winning the second set 3-0 and I thought that was game over but he kept coming back fighting every time.”

Schindler won the third and fourth sets to need just one more to claim a famous scalp.

The German thrower, seeded 29th, threw 10 maximums to Smith’s six.

And it was a backs to the wall effort that pulled Smith through, with a real test of nerve in the do-or-die last three sets.

Smith said: “I kept telling myself I am one of the favourites, if you want to be a world champion them play like one.

“I was not quite there tonight, but showed true grit and what character I have got.

“My scoring was dreadful today so I am going to hit the board tomorrow and find out where my 180s have gone.

“It should be a good game against Joe Cullen.”

St Helens pair Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting face each other tomorrow at Alexandra Palace.