“The money doesn't matter to me, I want to be on tour and competing” – Charlie Manby advances to the third round on World Championship debut

Charlie Manby continues to impress at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship. The young Englishman booked his place in the third round with a convincing 3-0 victory over Adam Sevada, doing so in a manner that underlined his growth, maturity and grounded outlook on the sport.

With a high checkout percentage, barely any legs conceded and a notably calm presence on stage, Manby showed that he is not overawed by his World Championship debut at Alexandra Palace.

“Yeah, definitely. I think I played well. I did the right things at the right time again, so yeah, I’m buzzing,” Manby said after the match.

The numbers told their own story. Manby converted 47 percent of his doubles and conceded just a single leg throughout the match, an impressive feat given it was his first appearance at the World Championship. Yet he remained characteristically modest about it.

“People sometimes look past the fact that, yeah, maybe he didn’t play to his best, but there are still key moments in darts where you need to be on it. I think I did quite well with that,” he said.

That ability to deliver in crucial moments once again proved decisive. While his opening-round match against Cameron Menzies had been an emotional and intense affair, this contest followed a very different pattern. His opponent never truly settled, but Manby stayed alert throughout.

“You’ve just got to think about those key moments where things can switch so quickly. You’ve got to recognise when it’s a big leg and do the right things. I think I kicked on well.”

After Christmas, a completely different challenge awaits in the form of Ricky Evans, a player known for his rapid tempo and strong crowd backing. Manby, however, appears unfazed.

“Yeah, definitely. I don’t think it’s all hit me yet, but my confidence is good. I’m feeling good and I feel like I’m throwing well. Everything this year is kind of a free shot for me.”

That outlook has defined his approach throughout the tournament. Rather than seeing the World Championship as a burden or pressure point, Manby views it as a reward for a strong season. “It’s my first year doing everything and I think I’ve done it quite well.”

One striking aspect of Manby’s rise is how deliberately he manages distractions such as social media. While many young players are drawn into outside opinions, he chooses to keep his distance. “Not really, no. People want to speak bad on social media, so I don’t tend to look at it much.”

Ahead of his opening match, he went even further. “Before my first game I didn’t go on it for a week, then I won, went on it for a day and came straight back off again. I don’t really look as much as other people do.”

That approach allows him to focus purely on darts and his own development, rather than external noise.

Manby’s path to Alexandra Palace was built on sustained hard work. A fourth-place finish on the Development Tour secured his place at the World Championship, something he now sees as fully justified.

“I just saw it as a free shot. I finished fourth on the Development Tour, and qualifying for this was hard work all year. I think all that hard work has paid off, and it shows.”

Reaching the third round after Christmas feels like a significant milestone. “People sometimes look past what’s actually happened. I finished fourth on the Development Tour and now I’m here in round three. It’s such a good feeling.”

Despite that, thoughts of prize money or consequences remain firmly in the background. “No, the money doesn’t matter to me. This year is a free shot. I want to do well, I want to be on tour with these lads and I want to compete. I feel like I have competed this year so far. I just want to be up there competing with the best, and I know I can.”

The World Championship represents the latest highlight in a period where everything seems to be falling into place. Earlier this year, Manby also claimed victory in the MODUS Super Series, another major step forward. “Yeah, definitely. But I didn’t want the same mindset as my first game. I actually wanted to feel more nervous. I like the nerves, they spur me on.”

Away from the big stage, he remains closely connected to his roots, including his involvement with a darts academy back home. For those youngsters, his Ally Pally run almost feels unreal. “It’s nothing like anything else. It’s completely different. When there are 4,000 people in the room and everything’s red, it’s nothing like playing in your bedroom or your local academy. It’s the place you want to be.”

At the same time, he is keen not to lose perspective. “I kind of liked that everything felt different, but you’ve still got to come back down to earth. My family and friends just see me as a normal guy. They see me as Charlie Manby.”

Over the festive period, Manby plans to keep things simple. “I just want to chill out and do everything like I normally do. I want to forget for a bit that I’m in a good place. I’ve got round three to look forward to, but Christmas with family is still important. You can’t change that for one tournament.”

With a place in the last 32 already secured, Manby has exceeded his own expectations. And yet, it feels like this may only be the beginning. As for potentially facing a partisan crowd against Ricky Evans, he remains relaxed.

“It doesn’t really matter to me. They might support him more, they might not, but I’ll just embrace it and enjoy it again. That’s all I’ve done in the first two rounds.”