"People used to fear me and I don't show it enough": Ricky Evans looks towards sports psychologist amid Matchplay miss

Ricky Evans missed out on reaching the World Matchplay this year despite getting to the third round of the World Championship and the semi-finals of the UK Open and he admits he is hurt that he won't make his first appearance since 2020 at the Winter Gardens.

Evans had to watch on with little hope of making it as others sweated which he said was a weird position to be in but one he wishes he was in.

"It was a bit weird because I've been in that situation before. Do you remember the year Devon (Petersen) had a good year and he had to win it to get it and I was the last spot. So I remember what Wade, Gilding and Doets were feeling this year. I wasn't nowhere near this year, I was in the running but it took a miracle," said Evans to Online Darts.

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"It's nice to see everyone else sweating. Of course I'd rather have been sweating myself but it's one of them things. If you get through it's phew and if you don't get through you have to work harder next year. That's what I plan to do."

Asked where his game is at the moment, he said that he is on course to reach majors but also is a bit annoyed that he hasn't got to that next step yet. Which is where sports psychology comes in, a larger than life character it sometimes affects him on the oche. Evans hopes to have the same effect as other big names and utilise a different route for a real breakout.

"I'm playing alright. Everyone says they're playing well but I genuinely am playing quite good. It's just everyone else is. That's the problem. Back in the days I'm a veteran compared to some of these boys now, there's no easy first games and I realised that Wednesday when I ran into Mr Littler. I missed a dart to win and you're out the tournament and that's the way the season's gone. I'm in the World's, I'm in Minehead and next year I want to get to the big ones as I should be there in my opinion."

"We have a few things planned at the end of this year working on the mental side of the game. Other things away from the dart board as there's no harm in trying. Might give me that rocket up my bum to get me into that frame of mind. I'm such a defeatist, I believe I can beat anyone but I also know they can beat me. I used to be seeded, I used to be a danger. People used to fear me and I don't show it enough."

"What's the worst that can happen. It's worked for some of the bigger boys in most sport. Why not me. I know I've got the capabilities to do it, there's obviously something blocking me. So why not talk to someone that can get that out of me."