PDC World Championship Seeds Profile: Ricky Evans & Danny Noppert

The tournament seeds, as the top 32 in the PDC Order of Merit, represent the best of the best. But there's a lot of depth in the PDC, so we could see some big names toppling early. As we're previewing each first round tie, we've also taken a closer look at the World Championship seeds, who will join them later on.

All odds are provided by World Championship sponsors William Hill, and are correct at time at publication.

Seed: 32

Age: 29

Nationality: English

Previous World Championship appearances: 4

Best PDC major performance: Quarter-Finals, European Championship 2019

Walk-on: YMCA - The Village People

Odds to win: 300/1

There's one thing we can guarantee with 'Rapid' Ricky Evans - a good time. As well as being an entertaining player, with his fast-flinging style, the Northamptonshire thrower is one of darts' biggest characters. The walk-on alone will be unmissable.

Evans has been on the rise for quite some time. Now a two-time European Tour finalist and a regular seed in those events, he is often involved in the biggest tournaments. All that's missing is a big win, or at least a run deep into a major. Could the World Championship, a tournament he has struggled to last beyond Christmas in previously, be the place for it?

The main issue Evans has is that, as 32nd seed, he has a third-round meeting with Michael van Gerwen lined up. Then again, the 29-year-old knows how to spring an Ally Pally surprise. His win over Simon Whitlock four years, which came after the Aussie missed two match darts at 2-0 up in sets and legs, is still one of the tournament's greatest ever comebacks.

Evans will take on the winner of Mark McGeeney versus Matt Campbell in the second round.

Seed: 31

Age: 28

Nationality: Dutch

Previous World Championship appearances: 1

Best PDC major performance: Runner-up, World Series of Darts Finals 2019

Walk-on: High Hopes -Panic at the Disco

Odds to win: 250/1

It's seriously impressive that Danny Noppert is a seed so early in his PDC career (though some have managed it quicker - more on that in a later profile). Last year, the Dutchman was top of the Pro Tour qualifiers, and beat Royden Lam before a wasteful performance saw him fall at the hands of Max Hopp.

The 2017 BDO World Championship runner-up has had a mixed bag this season. He surprised a lot of people by making the final of the World Series of Darts Finals, before being outclassed by Van Gerwen. 'Noppie' has also reached four Players Championship semi-finals in 2019. But the UK Open and Grand Slam were, in particular, extremely disappointing.

Like his walk-on song, Noppert holds High Hopes for the World Championship. He'll face either Steve Lennon or Callan Rydz when entering the second round. Should he win that, he'll have second seed Rob Cross in his sights. It's hard to tell exactly which version of Danny Noppert will show up; the A-game, with that measured throw and eye for an important checkout (as evidenced in a brilliant comeback against Ryan Searle at the recent Players Championship Finals) is a dangerous prospect.