The 32-year-old, who also became world number one after his triumph, beat Dutch rival van Gerwen 7-4 after a stunning nine-dart finish on Tuesday.

Van Gerwen was also on course for a nine-dart finish but missed double 12 with his final throw.

Smith got his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy at the third time of asking, having previously lost to van Gerwen in 2019 and then Peter Wright 12 months ago.

That contributed to a run of eight successive major final defeats before he stopped the rot in November by winning the Grand Slam of Darts and following it up with the big one at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday night.

Smith said after becoming PDC world champion: "For me it's more about when I look at my kids and I say to them, 'If you're going to quit just don't bother'.

"You have to keep going, you have to keep persisting with it, the amount of heartache you might get. I lost eight in a row and then I have won my ninth and 10th.

"That was what was most important to me, teaching them a lesson and now I get to be selfish now, that trophy is mine."

PDC Darts, which organised the world championship contest, described Smith and Van Gerwen's pursuit of nine-darters "the best leg of all time", adding: "One of the greatest things you'll ever see in sport."