Michael Smith sits third in the World Rankings with a £400k lead on fourth-placed Gerwyn Price.
Despite this, Nathan Aspinall believes his best mate is in danger of plummeting down the rankings and out of the top 16.
The PDC’s ranking system is a two-year rolling order of merit, with each player defending a tournament’s prize money earned 24 months prior.
Though Smith appears to be in a comfortable position with over a million pounds in ranking money, he must successfully defend 75% of that money to maintain his lofty position.
Nathan Aspinall says Michael Smith could fall out of the top 16
‘The Bully Boy’ had a momentous year in 2022 where he reached four ranking finals.
He finally lifted that elusive first major with the Grand Slam of Darts before lifting the World Championship two months later.
The victories propelled him to number one in the world but with £650k to defend from those two tournaments, ‘The Asp’ told Online Darts there is cause for concern for the St Helens Superstar.
“As quickly as you get to the top you can fall down. Smithy is seeing that. He’s in a bit of trouble. I know he’s my mate, but he could fall out of the top 16, Peter Wright is the same. Van Gerwen isn’t a seed on the Euro Tour now. All of these things can happen if you get complacent.”
Aspinall is also wary of his own pressures after finding form difficult to come by since lifting the 2023 World Matchplay.
He added: “If I don’t pull my finger out I won’t be in New York next year, I won’t be in the Premier League.”
Nathan Aspinall right to be concerned about Michael Smith
The PDC’s ranking system can be an unforgiving beast and Aspinall’s worries for Smith are justified.
Smith has previously said he does not care about at his ranking situation, but he will be acutely aware that a poor second half to the season could be disastrous for his position in the order of merit.
That being said, it would take a brave person to back against the former World Champion to come out swinging.
He has displayed his resilience on the oche countless times and do not be surprised to see Smith steady the ship with some deep runs at the business end of the year.