VIDEO | "You want to ruin their Christmas, because if not, they’re going to ruin yours!” - Ricky Evans through to round 2 for sixth World Championship running

Ricky Evans is through to the second round at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. After a real battle with Australia's Gordon Mathers, Evans managed to emerge victorious in a deciding set. In round 2, sixth seed Dave Chisnall now awaits on Monday, December 23rd. 

Pre-match, as has become the custom, Evans brought the Alexandra Palace crowd to life with his Christmas-themed walk-on. Accompanied by a blow up elf, Evans, famed for his rapid throwing style, milked every second of his walk-on, having the audience in the palm of his hands singing along to Shakin Stevens's classic Merry Christmas Everyone.

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VIDEO | Ricky Evans brings the Christmas spirit to the Ally Pally with epic festive walk-on

Despite winning though, Evans wasn't completely content with his performance. "It's weird because it's probably the most deflated I've ever felt coming off the stage and I've won. I don't understand how I've won, but I'm in the next round so yeah, I can't play like that again," he assesses in his post-match press conference. "I just don't want to let myself down because I know I should be seeded here, let alone winning games. I overthink things."

With Dave Chisnall waiting in the next round, Evans knows he needs to up his game to keep his World Darts Championship hopes alive. “I’m going to have to play a lot better than that against Dave, but it still might not be enough,” he admits. “Dave is one of my favourite players to watch, and one of my favourite players on tour, but you have to forget that. You need to focus on yourself. You want to ruin their Christmas, because if not, they’re going to ruin yours!”

Evans' festive walk-on is always one of the highlights of the opening round at the Worlds

One of darts most colourful characters, thanks in part to his brilliant walk-ons, Evans can always count on a loud and vocal support from the Ally Pally faithful, something he doesn't take for granted. "They were cheering my name!" Evans says in disbelief. "There's like 2,000 people cheering Ricky Evans. I've won nothing. I've literally won nothing. I'm just a bog standard professional that's always there. I was singing along to it mid-game just trying to gee myself up."

"I don't understand it. Why are they cheering me on?" 'Rapid' asks aloud. "Maybe it's because they think I'm one of them, but yeah it's weird. I need to win one of these bloody Pro Tours or European Tours, just to get a title under my belt. I might win this instead for a laugh, just play bang average all tournament and win it!"

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