Michael Smith looks completely different in footage of him winning youth final

Michael Smith is the world darts champion after defeating Michael van Gerwen on Tuesday – but it's not the first time he's ruled the roost.

Smith first claimed dominance over the rest of the world in 2013 when he beat Ricky Evans to win the World Youth Championship.

Aged just 22, Bully Boy put in a performance that Rapid Ricky simply couldn't live with as the St Helens thrower emerged victorious with a dominant 6-1 victory. Fast forward 10 years and Smith is champion of the world once again, albeit at senior level and with a slightly different look.

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Back in 2013, Smith sported a daredevil mohawk with tramlines shaved into the sides. He also strolled up to the oche clean-shaven, unlike his current bearded features.

Despite the change in appearance, the result remained the same as the 22-year-old and 32-year-old versions of Smith both walked away with the prize.

How many world titles can Smith win? Let us know in the comments section below.

Indeed, Bully Boy even offered some sage words to his future self after beating Evans all those years ago. "Michael van Gerwen lost twice in the World Youth Championship final and you only have to see where he is now to know that anything's possible," he said.

"I'm nearly in the world's top 32 but I want to push on and try and get into the top 16."

Smith broke into the world's top-16 in 2015 and hasn't looked back since. Following his win over Van Gerwen at Ally Pally, he is now the world no.1 for the first time in his career.

The champion of the world picked up £500,000 for his exploits in north London, propelling him above MVG, Peter Wright and 2021 winner Gerwyn Price in the Order of Merit.

Speaking after winning the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time, Smith told the PDC website: "It’s amazing. This is what I’ve worked all my career for,” said Smith, speaking on Wednesday morning.

"I got to bed at about 1:30am and I just laid there for about seven hours looking at the trophy in the cabinet. I want to stand with this trophy on the halfway line at St Helens with the big ‘V’ behind us, and I’m sure there will be a few tears shed there.

"It’s not sunk in yet, and I don’t think it will until John McDonald introduces me to the stage."

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