'Is he out of the top 32 in the next 12 months' - Former pro openly wonders if Michael Smith's career is still salvageable

Michael Smith is currently in the toughest phase of his career. The former world champion has slipped to No. 21 in the world rankings and is also in danger of dropping out of the top 32 in the near future, according to several people within the sport.

'Bully Boy' already went down in the first round at 11 of 27 Players Championship tournaments this year. Also this week he failed to impress in Hildesheim. On Tuesday afternoon he lost 6-1 to Michael Unterbuchner in the first round.

Former pro Andy Cornwall therefore did not spare him in the Mission Darts Podcast, and doubts the Englishman will ever come out on top: “Michael Smith, is it over? “I mean, is his career over? He was awful. Is he out the top 32 in the next 12 months? “I mean, what on earth?”

Analyst Matt Edgar, moreover, sees several players who will have to step up in the near future to avoid slipping on the Order of Merit. “We’ve got a lot of change. Michael Smith, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Peter Wright, Joe Cullen. I think they’re four people that will be outside the top 32 in no time.”

Yet Smith's situation especially stands out. Cornwall points out that the Englishman is only 34 and already has several major TV titles to his name. "Well, there’s a couple of young lads there. You know, we’re not talking about season pros that, you know, we’re not talking about a Mensur Suljović, a Simon Whitlock, a Steve Beaton, who’ve fallen from grace gracefully.

“These are young lads. We’re talking about world champions. We’re talking about major champions in their 20s and 30s, potentially disappearing. And Michael Smith’s the one for me.”

With injuries and illness further disrupting his season, Smith is in danger of even missing the World Grand Prix as well as the European Darts Championship. An early elimination at the upcoming World Darts Championship could really trigger his free fall outside the top 32.