Michael Smith’s race to catch up beats Martin Schindler in the world championship

The No. 4 seeded team trailed Germany’s top scorer Martin Schindler 3-1 in sets and appeared to join the ranks of the top-flight players in the prestigious tournament.

But Smith found something to win the next three straight sets to advance to Friday’s next round, where he will face Joe Cullen.

Smith said: “I thought I killed him with the 170, won the second set 3-0 and I thought it was game over but he came back fighting every time.”

Schindler won sets three and four, needing just one more to claim a famous scalp.

The German pitcher, seeded 29th, threw 10 maximums to Smith’s six.

And it was a back-to-the-wall effort that Smith broke through, with a real test of nerves in the last three sets, which saw everything and everyone at stake.

Smith said: “I kept telling myself I’m one of the favorites, if you want to be world champions they play like one.

“I wasn’t quite there tonight but showed true courage and what character I have.

“My scoring was terrible today, so tomorrow I’ll go to the board and see where my 180s went.

“It should be a good game against Joe Cullen.”

St Helens couple Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting face off at Alexandra Palace tomorrow.