"I still believe when I do win, she’ll be there hitting the double for me" – Grief-stricken Ricky Evans plays with the memories of his sister in mind

In the darts world, Ricky Evans has long been known as one of the most distinctive characters on tour. Not just for his lightning-fast throw, but above all for his bold personality, sense of humor, and unmistakable urge to entertain the crowd.

In a candid and at times downright absurd chat with TalkSport, “Rapid Ricky” lets us into his world, from curry dishes to family drama, and from bizarre superstitions to big sporting ambitions.

Anyone who thinks elite athletes live by the book doesn’t know Evans. After a win he doesn’t reach for a protein shake, but for a curry. “Curry, I’m a curry man, I love a spice, a bit of spice, a madras,” he says without hesitation to talkSPORT. Spicy food, garlic naan, and the occasional bhaji, though the latter once led to a painful experience. Laughing, he recalls how he once threw up in an Indian restaurant because of a “dodgy bhaji.” Classic Evans, nothing gets filtered, everything comes out.

His eating habits say a lot about his character. Evans isn’t a man of complicated choices. Give him a good curry and he’s happy. You see the same simplicity on stage, where he ignores conventions.

On the circuit, Evans maintains warm ties with several players. His best friend? David Pallett, whom he grew up with. He also lists Stephen Bunting, Dave Chisnall, and Jamie Hughes as close acquaintances.

His admiration for Scott Williams stands out. “I want his arrogance, if I had his arrogance I reckon I’d be 39 in the world, not 40,” says Evans. It typifies his self-deprecation, he never takes himself too seriously, yet he knows exactly where his shortcomings lie.

Evans is a polarizing player. His walk-ons, outfits, and exuberant celebrations are seen by some as over the top. But criticism hardly seems to affect him. “I’m me, if someone doesn’t like what I do, you’re not doing it, I am,” he says firmly.

He is open to advice, provided it comes from the right people. Names like Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor carry weight. But at his core, Evans stays true to himself. And there’s a reason. “I get a kick out of making people smile, that’s my goal in life,” he explains. “If someone could laugh at me and go, I had a good night because of him, yeah, bring it on.”

In a sport where results are paramount, Evans highlights the entertainment value. “If everyone was the same, it would be a boring game,” he argues. Albeit while he is an entertainer, he also admitted previously he wore no pants on a European Tour.

Behind the joker is an ambitious athlete. Evans firmly believes he will win a major one day. “Yes I do, I wouldn’t play darts if I didn’t believe,” he says. He even dreams in detail, the moment he drops the trophy and it shatters. “I still believe I’m going to win one, I’m going to drop the trophy, that’s how weird I am,” he laughs.

According to Evans, the key to success lies in winning a floor event. That would give him the confidence to excel on TV as well. Because that’s where his strength lies, on stage, with a crowd, under the lights. “I love playing on stage, I love people knowing I’m there, showing off in a way, a bit of a peacock,” he admits.

Evans’ trademark remains his speed. While others take their time to aim, he fires his darts at blistering pace. That style emerged in his youth. His father gave him darts and he spent hours at the board, playfully getting faster and faster. “I can do it, it’s just not me,” he says of slowing down. “Ricky the Sloth or the Tortoise doesn’t really appeal to me.”

Away from darts, Evans is a man of simple passions. He supports Manchester United and grew up in the glory days with icons like David Beckham. He is also an avid music fan. His playlist is a chaotic mix from Elvis Presley to obscure pop acts. “There’s no-one on tour that’s better than me in a music quiz, that’s a fact,” he claims confidently.

Karaoke? No problem either. His favorite song: Mandy by Westlife. “I’ve sang many, we do Mandy, the Westlife version,” he says. Serious singing or not, Evans does it with full conviction.

Like many darters, Evans has his quirks. For big matches, he puts on his socks first and only then his underwear. He prefers using the same toilet and always listens to the same music. “So many, bigger games I put my socks on before my pants,” he says. “It never works though, so maybe I should get rid of these.”

One of his biggest hurdles is his tendency to overthink. “I overthink everything, literally everything,” says Evans. From train delays to matches, from relationships to his health, nothing escapes his ruminating mind.

He realizes it holds him back. “If I had nothing in there, I’d probably be a lot higher in the world,” he admits. He still hasn’t found a solution. “Maybe one day,” he says hesitantly.

The most striking part of the conversation comes when Evans talks about his family. His father is his great hero. “My dad, he got me into darts, he’s the funniest bloke I’ve ever met, my best friend,” he says. “Everything I do comes from him.”

He grew up in the pub, where as a child he spent hours playing darts while his father kept an eye on him. Those memories still underpin his love for the sport. But the past year was overshadowed by the loss of his sister, an event that hit him hard. He chose to keep playing. “What would my mum and dad want me to do, would they want me to sit at home and do nothing, no, just play darts, that’s what I’m good at,” he explains.

His words are raw and honest. “I’m not the only person that’s had a family bereavement, everyone dies,” he says. “This one hit because it was the biggest thing ever in my life.” Still, he keeps the faith. “I still believe when I do win, she’ll be there hitting the double for me.”