World Champion darts player Michael Smith battles Chris Dobey in the opening match of night 13 of the Premier League in Leeds on Thursday.
The St Helens superstar fell out of the top four last week for the first time since week two after defeat to Gerwyn Price.
Smith has not qualified for the play-offs since 2018 and if he fails to finish the campaign in the top four, he’ll only be the third reigning World Champion that’s failed to make finals night.
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The World Number One has lost all three of his meetings against Dobey this year.
Both of their Premier League meetings have finished 6-4 to the Geordie, though Smith has finished with the higher average both times.
Smith is only one point behind fourth-placed Jonny Clayton and taking home five points by winning the night could see him move up to third depending on other results.
Dobey faces an uphill task to keep his hopes alive. He’s nine points adrift of Clayton with only four weeks left to play.
Both players had a poor Euro Tour in Austria at the weekend. Neither man was able to get past their second game though Smith did win the previous Euro Tour event in Munich.
The winner of this tie will face either reigning champion Michael van Gerwen - or Peter Wright who sits at the foot of the table.
The other half of the draw sees league leader Gerwyn Price clash with Welsh teammate and top four contender Clayton, while Dimitri van den Bergh takes on third placed Nathan Aspinall.
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