"It's nothing I shy away from": Ryan Meikle battling for Tour Card survival after shocking six months

From being a regular feature at the World Championship and other major tournaments to being in the darting doldrums, Ryan Meikle has a big six months to keep his Tour Card.

'The Barber' from Suffolk though is under no illusion about his current plight and the task that awaits him in the coming months but is firmly keeping the faith that it isn't all doom and gloom.

"I had a bit of a shocking last six months and end of last year. Not down to effort or anything like that, it just went for a while. This year has been up and down but the results have still been there a little bit. If I can have a big second half of the year, hopefully I'll be back in the World's and see what it brings," said Meikle to Online Darts.

But he also missed the World Championship for the first time in many years last time out which hasn't done him any favours.

"I can't really explain it. For the past four years being in it, as a kid it was like a dream come true. It did hurt. I struggled to watch a lot of it. But it just makes you more determined for this year."

Now though he is ready to stand and fight and is ready to find his way back into contention. Firmly keeping the faith that he will return to his best, Meikle hasn't yet given up hope.

"It's nothing I shy away from. As much as people say you don't think about it, we always know what we've got to do. It's a the back of my mind. I've been on tour for about nine years now so I don't want to lose my Tour Card. World's is a big one for me."