Ricky Evans on mindset behind Sherrock tie at PDC World Darts Championships: "I've got to treat it as if I'm playing Michael van Gerwen"

This week Tungsten Tales spoke to Ricky Evans about all things World Championships, his performances this year and what's next.

Evans reflected on his performances this year and sounded like he wasn't as impressed with himself as maybe others were.

“Yeah its been steady, I have lost a lot of games I should’ve won and I've gone to a lot of events struggling with my foot. I still don’t know what the problem is but instead of pulling out of events I’ve been trying to plod through them.”

“I think that’s where I’ve struggled a little bit because obviously like I’ve said the aim is to get there every year and yeah I think I sewed it up by April. It’s then hard to find something to fight for because you know you’re in, you have to set yourself a new target. I should’ve said to myself to try and get into the seedings because my form dipped after I knew I had qualified.”

Although the Englishmen felt he hadn't been at his best, this could've potentially bettered his chances of getting further in the competition as he now is outside of the seedings.

“Being a floater in the draw might help me this year because I drew ‘The Green Machine’ [Michael van Gerwen] two years running being the number 32, and as well as I played I didn’t get a set. I think one game I had a 105 average and I got four legs to my name which is just ridiculous.”

Even though he isn't facing the World No. 3 in his first match this year it still doesn't mean its going to be easy for him. In his first match Evans is going to be facing Fallon Sherrock and here's what he had to say about it.

“It’s one of them things you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth and if I do my thing I have a good chance. There’s no need to worry about what she does because obviously she’s a great player but I just need to worry about what I do, I should have more than enough to beat anyone in my opinion… I’ve got to treat it as if I’m playing Van Gerwen again – She’s trying to knock me out I’m trying to knock her out.”

“The tour starts in February and it’s the one you count down to, the big one as they say. It can change peoples careers. I qualified April time pretty much after a Pro final so I’ve been waiting for this for months now – I can smell it, I can smell Ally Pally.”

“2023 is going to be a big year for me so I’m hoping for a good Worlds this year to set me up perfectly.”