Former world champion Smith suffering from arthritis

Former world champion Michael Smith says he is suffering from arthritis in his right hand.

Smith, who won the world title in 2023, issued a statement after he was knocked out of the World Masters in Milton Keynes on Thursday by Dutchman Danny Noppert.

"I broke both my wrists when I was 19 and now it's catching up with me and now suffering with arthritis to my right hand," said Englishman Smith.

"This isn't sympathy or a cry for help. This is letting you all in to it. I've never given up or stopped from any pain."

Smith, who throws with his right hand, hit a nine-darter immediately after Michael van Gerwen just missed one in what was described as the greatest leg of darts when winning the World Championship final in 2023.

But his form has dropped and he is down to number 16 in the world after losing in the second round of the World Championship.

The 34-year-old from St Helens, nicknamed 'Bully Boy', also said he has been suffering from a shoulder injury for the past six weeks which has required physiotherapy every two to three days.

"I see the specialist Monday and when I know, you will know, what will happen over the next month or so," he said.

"I'll never let anything beat me and I promise I'll be back very, very quickly."

Defending champion Stephen Bunting survived a scare to battle past qualifier William Borland in a final-leg decider and book his place in the last 16 of the Masters.

Bunting, the world number five, has continued from his run to the World Championship semi-finals with impressive form, winning the Bahrain Masters.

'The Bullet' had to dig in after Scotland's Borland took the opening two sets and will play Peter Wright next.

Qualifier William O'Connor pulled off a shock 3-1 win over 2018 world champion Rob Cross - landing a 151 finish to knock out the Englishman, who last week won his fifth World Series title after beating Bunting in the Dutch Masters final.

World number one Luke Humphries beat 2022 Masters winner Joe Cullen 3-1 and will meet Northern Ireland's Josh Rock in the last 16 of the first ranking event of the new season.

Luke Littler, who became the youngest world champion aged 17 last month, opens his Masters campaign against Andy Baetens on Friday.

World Masters first-round results

Josh Rock 3-1 Jermaine Wattimena

Damon Heta 3-1 Ross Smith

William O'Connor 3-1 Rob Cross

Gerwyn Price 3-0 Florian Hempel

Peter Wright 3-2 Kevin Doets

Luke Humphries 3-1 Joe Cullen

Stephen Bunting 3-2 William Borland

Danny Noppert 3-1 Michael Smith