Aussie Raymond Smith has unfortunately crashed out of the 2022 PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace on Thursday, going down in the round of 16 to Englishman Mervyn King on Thursday.
Smith seemed to be on his way to a quarter-final berth after going 2-0 up in the clash and again leading 3-1 and playing particularly well.
At that point he had a moment with the Palace crowd and got pretty riled up, before eventually going down to King 4-3.
It was a great tournament for Smith who took to social media after the event to explain the battle with the crowd, and how he got so emotional being so far away from loved ones.
“Seems I have been “slammed” for going at the crowd,” Smith tweeted.
“I thought it was good banter, copped heaps and gave the big one on the double. Thought it was all in good spirits.
“Apologize if others saw it differently, it wasn’t the intent.”
With regards to the emotions getting the better of him through the clash:
“Sorry all…..
“At the end of the day, I was fighting back tear after set 3….
The love of my life is on the other side of the world and I just didn’t deal with it as well as I thought…..
“It hit me hard in set 3 and fought as hard as I could, but was outclassed.”
Smith was the last Aussie standing at the event which will continue with Quarter-Final action on New Year’s Day local time.
Saturday January 1
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session (12.30pm-5pm)
James Wade v Mervyn King
Luke Humphries v Gary Anderson
Evening Session (7.30pm-11pm)
Peter Wright v Callan Rydz
Gerwyn Price v Michael Smith