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ST HELENS darter Michael Smith suffered a heartbreaking defeat in his pursuit of a major title, losing 11-10 to Peter Wright in the Labrokes Masters.

The Clock Face thrower had overcome Adrian Lewis 10-6 in the last eight before coming through a last-leg decider with Nathan Aspinall to set up a showdown with Wright.

The World Champion took a commanding 5-2 lead, only for the battling Smith to fight his way back into the contest at 6-4.

A crucial break of throw followed for Smith, who then landed a 130 checkout to level it up at 8-8, and after the next four legs were shared the contest went all the way to a one-leg shoot-out.

Smith kicked off the decider with his eighth 180 of the match and followed up with a 140, but a 171 visit from Wright piled the pressure on the St Helens man, who missed two darts at double top and one at his favourite double ten to take victory.

 

Afterwards Smith said: "Peter could've easily buried me earlier in the game but when I gave myself a chance I missed it again.

"I wanted it so much - I think I threw too hard at the doubles for the match, but when they left my hand they felt like they were going in.

"He put the pressure on, hitting 171, and have never shook as much in my life going for tops.

"I was just wishing and praying it went in, but sadly it never.

"It's the first tournament of the year and I made the final - I have got 11 months left now to hopefully get one so it is a good step forward."

A junior World Champion, this defeat is the latest of a number of showpiece finale runners up spots.

It will intensify his hunger to take out one of the major prizes - but the  agony etched on his face at the end underlined how tough it is.

"It is getting harder and harder when I keep missing - it will come. I am not going to stop fighting," he said.

"I am going to go home now and do the school run in the morning and then back on the boear where I'll be throwing tops for 12 hours.

"Tomorrow is a different day and a different Michael Smith."

Smith will now turn his attention to Night One of the 2020 Unibet Premier League, which will take place at Aberdeen's new P&J Live on Thursday.