"I've got everything to be a Premier League player but the darts" - Ricky Evans insists he'd 'put bums on seats' if he could improve consistency

One of the real fan favourites in the modern darting scene, Ricky Evans has been entertaining the PDC for over a decade now, having first won his Tour Card back in 2013. Despite being a consistent figure over the last 12 years though, 'Rapid' still waiting for a first PDC title.

A former winner of the Challenge Tour and a semi-finalist at the UK Open back in 2024, Evans has shown glimpses of his massive potential. In 2025 though, the 34-year-old is determined to finally take that next step and really start mixing it up with the darting elite on a regular basis. "If I can get my floor game going, I'm capable of being anywhere in the world of darts," Evans assesses firmly in an interview with Online Darts. "The stage brings out the best of me, brings a showman brings the entertainment. But I can also back it up with good darts as well."

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It might seem simple, but winning more games would be massive for Evans' confidence, and in turn could bring more success. "Yeah, just work on that floor game, work on qualifying for these Euro Tours. The World Matchplay is obviously a long way away, but who's to say if I have a good February, March, April, June, May or whatever, you never know!" Evans explains. "It is doable, it's just confidence is the thing for me. Because I've got the game to do it, I just need to stop running into good averages and good players."

Having spent the last few years determinedly searching for the title win, Evans is trying to relax his way to success in 2025. "Every year I always say: goal of the year, win a Pro Tour. I always say it, but I haven't said it this year," he comments. "I just want to enjoy myself, because who knows, it could be my last year. There's a lot of good players that are falling off Tour."

Evans reached the semis of the 2024 UK Open in his best TV performance to date

"I had a terrible year last year, but still reached the semi-finals in Minehead and got to after Christmas at the Worlds," continues Evans. "Most people would on tour would be biting your hand off for that. Not me. If I get my game properly, get my head right, lose a bit of timber, anyone is in danger! but that's easier said than done."

As mentioned, over the years, Evans has earned a reputation as something of a crowd-pleaser. As he looks to make that next step though, is it time to start thinking about himself? "I don't want to be known as: 'Ricky Evans? He got on Tour in 2013 but what's he won? He's fast though... It's a gimmick. I want to back it up with titles" Evans says. "Matt from MDA tells me I've got everything to be a Premier League player but the darts and he's right. I've got the walk on, I've got the likeability factor crowd like me, the shirts, the idiotic celebrations, the charisma. I just need to throw better! That is the goal one day, because I think I'd put bums on seats."

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