VIDEO | "He feels that he can maybe add 1 or 2% to my game and that can make a huge difference" - Ryan Joyce benefitting from Glen Durrant's guidance

Ryan Joyce is through to the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. 'Relentless' was too strong for Darius Labanauskas in his opening match on Tuesday, winning 3-1 to set up a showdown with Danny Noppert in the last 64.

The match got off to a great start for Joyce as he hit a 126 finish on the bullseye in the opening leg, setting the tone. Although Labanauskas did level the contest by taking set 2, the Englishman did look like the better player throughout, eventually prevailing 3-1. Joyce now has three days off before he takes on Noppert on Saturday, December 21st.

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"I thought it was really steady, solid and something to build on," reflected Joyce afterwards in his post-match press conference. "I started the first set really well, something that I haven't done in the past.  I've always struggled early on and got better as the match went on, but it was different this time. So maybe the work I've been doing in the practice room is better than what I have done previously."

A quarter-finalist at the PDC World Darts Championship on debut back in 2019, Joyce seemingly loves the Ally Pally stage. "It's a lovely place," he says. "All the nostalgia around the building, all the fantastic darts that have been played here over the years, it's just a privilege to play on that stage and the crowd's always the wildest here. It's a special atmosphere."

Ryan Joyce now takes on Danny Noppert

Joyce has recently been working closely with former Premier League Darts winner and good friend Glen Durrant. The benefits are already showing through as well. "We've focused more on the mental side of the game. Obviously, I'm already a player that's really close to the top 32," he explains. "With his experience and the tournaments that he's won, he feels that he can maybe add 1 or 2% to my game and that can make a huge difference. I'm open to trying anything like that and Glen's a really clever bloke. Even just the couple of sessions we've had, it's give me something different to try."

As mentioned, the 39-year-old Englishman will now take on 13th-seeded Dutchman Danny Noppert in the third round. A tie that holds no fear for Joyce. "It's huge to play somebody that you've got such a good record against. It makes so much difference, it really does," he previews. "Whenever I play him, I don't know, the darts just seem to go where I'm throwing them and it's a great feeling."

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