"He was just on his phone eating some chips 10 minutes before we’re about to play" - Ryan Meikle recalls Luke Littler's incredible pre-match routine ahead of Ally Pally clash
PDC
Ryan Meikle, better known as "The Barber," has his sights set on a spot in the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit. The 28-year-old darter from Suffolk combines his ambitions in sports with his work as a barber, but hopes to become a full-time professional on the oche in the near future.
Meikle had a solid start to 2024, including a quarterfinal finish at the Players Championship and a strong fifth round at the UK Open. The six-time Development Tour winner already showed what he is capable of last year by beating Scottish darts legend Gary Anderson in the first round of the Players Championship Finals. In a nerve-wracking match, Meikle managed to defy a phenomenal 103.88 average from Anderson to win 6-5.
At the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, Meikle saw off Fallon Sherrock in a highly-antcipated first round clash before he faced then 17-year-old sensation Luke Littler in the second round. Although "The Nuke" was victorious 3-1, Meikle gave him a strong fight. His creditable performance against Littler and previous successes strengthen Meikle's ambition to break through further at the highest level.
Despite his growing name in the darts world, Meikle remains active for now as a hairdresser at Nick's Gents Hairdressing in Saxmundham. He combines his work with daily dart training, something he takes advantage of even in the workplace. “Obviously one day I’d love to be full-time, but I love my job here as well. That’s not something I just want to give up that easy because I still enjoy it,” Meikle explained recently to the BBC, revealing he has a board in work for the quiet moments.
Meikle is determined to continue to break through on the ProTour and in major tournaments. “I feel like I can maybe get top 32 [in the world] and you are earning big money then,” he eyes with optimism.
His encounter with Luke Littler at the Alexandra Palace was a learning experience. “I think going into it I was really relaxed. I was chilled and I think I showed I play quite well… then obviously in the last set he made it impossible for me to win. I was happy I pushed him and gave him a good game,” he recalls. “He (Littler ed.) was just so chilled – ‘I’m just a bit hungry’ – just on his phone eating some chips 10 minutes before we’re about to play.”
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- Covid or the vaccine. Which one done him?Mysstree16-03-2025
- Beau also skipped Players Championships 7 & 8 next week, and PC 3 & 4 four weeks ago. If she next chooses to miss the Women's Series and PC 13 & 14 in mid-April then we can make a fair guess as to her reason.Scoobedybop13-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- Aspinall was a no-show: Carl Sneyd steps in from the Challenge Tour.Scoobedybop11-03-2025
- Likewise, I have always been a fan of Mervyn and with this worry on his mind, it explains why his form and ranking plummeted. It is really sad to hear this, often chatted to Mervyn and Tracey during the Lakeside days, both are lovely people. It does seem naive not acknowledging the fact it was earnings, surely there must be others in the same situation. I really hope the Kings can get through this....would a go fund me be permittedrichieburnettrocks11-03-2025
- I always like Merv,but he does he seems slightly naive with his comments. I wish you all the best, hope you can get sorted,and try and get back to a decent game,a bit of money.....and get rid of the dogs,if that's your main concern,I believe your priorities may be slightly wrongrick6710-03-2025
- What’s with the dogs element to this story, trying to pull at the heart strings? Just goes to show that being a good dart player does not equate to being that bright. Seriously, ‘I thought you didn’t have to pay tax on winnings’ , your a pro dart player and its your line of work, your not playing the lottery or placing a bet. I think it was Phil Taylor who said you should put a third to one side of all winnings into a bank account, obviously Merv was wearing his earplugs at the time.Mysstree10-03-2025
- The thing is... the folks who "humiliated" Taylor in the Seniors Events never really achieved anything in the important events - like Taylor did. Taylor had/has nothing to prove... and beating Taylor after he had retired is of zero value. Taylor in his prime would have made easy work of all of them. Cheers.MrYnyslas197107-03-2025
- Taylor was humiliated in the seniors events,so he really has nothing to lose by playing littler. I think he should put his darts away,and let us remember what a great player he wasrick6706-03-2025