The roar of the Alexandra Palace crowd faded to a hollow echo for Ricky Evans on Monday night. He’d started strong against Charlie Manby, a debutant twenty years his junior, briefly leading in a match that promised a classic. But as the sets wore on, something shifted, and a familiar frustration began to creep into his game.
Evans, a veteran of the professional darts circuit, has repeatedly reached the last 32 of the World Championship, only to stumble at the final hurdle. This year felt different, yet the outcome remained agonizingly the same – a 3-2 defeat that left him reeling and exposed.
The loss unleashed a torrent of online abuse. Death threats, cruel taunts about his weight, and general vitriol flooded his social media feeds. But Evans, known for his colorful personality and flamboyant walk-ons, refused to be silenced. He responded with a defiant message, acknowledging his poor performance but turning the negativity back on his tormentors.
“Today wasn’t my day,” he wrote, “I gave everything I could. Thank you to the not so nice people for the death threats, hate & fat jokes… I was poo and I’m still better than you❤️.” The raw honesty, laced with a touch of humor, revealed a player hurting but unbroken.
The match itself highlighted a stark contrast in mentality. While Evans appeared to falter as Manby gained momentum, the young Yorkshireman remained focused, almost detached from the pressure. Manby noticed the change in his opponent as soon as he took the lead in the deciding set, sensing an opportunity to capitalize.
Former professional Wayne Mardle was critical of Evans’ late-game performance, calling it “unprofessional” and suggesting he’d “given up.” He pointed to Manby’s unwavering composure as a key factor, praising the young player’s ability to maintain focus even as his opponent visibly struggled.
Manby, averaging a modest 89.50, secured a stunning victory and a place in the last 16. He now faces Gian van Veen, a formidable opponent who has already impressed in the tournament. Manby believes his best is yet to come, patiently waiting for his A-game to fully ignite.
Despite the heartbreak, Evans walked away with £35,000 in prize money. But the sting of defeat, and the ugliness of the online backlash, lingered. He found solace in the support of his family and girlfriend, a reminder of what truly mattered amidst the chaos of professional competition.
