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‘Rapid’ Ricky Evans called himself “box-office” after he dumped out seventh seed James Wade in a World Championship classic at Alexandra Palace on Monday.
Evans inflicted another early exit on Wade as he survived a match dart to prevail in a nail-biting tie-break set for a place in the third round.
The Kettering thrower averaged 88.19, hit eight 180s, with 36 per cent on his checkouts, and two ton-plus finishes (144 and 128) to win a dramatic contest and reach the third round for the third consecutive year.
“Imagine coming to the darts and winning 3-0 what is the point? Make it interesting!,” said Evans, who took out 99 for a 12-darter to win the match.
“What is the point of playing boring? I say every year I am weird, but I am box office!
“I literally thought you have had your chance, Wadey is going to do it now. But I am still in! Come on!
“My sister hit that double for me there – we are going there girl, we are going!”
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Ricky Evans dedicates his win over James Wade at the World Darts Championship to his late sister Elisha, who sadly passed away this year
Sky Sports Darts’ Abi Davies:
“It was exhilarating, it was exhausting. Both players went blow for blow,” she said.
“It looked like it was James Wade’s and Ricky Evans – at times – looked done, but both players went to the well time after time.
“It was Evans who found the scoring, found the doubling when he needed it. He’s through to the third round for a seventh time.”
Sky Sports Darts’ Glen Durrant:
“Evans is an emotional man but what a game that was! Much respect to Wade, who never knew when he was beaten.
“What a finish from Evans under the circumstances!”
End of the road for cult hero Munyua
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The best of the action from Kevin Doets’ victory against David Munyua…
David Munyua saw his world championship campaign come to an end in the second round as Kevin Doets maintained a strong standard to deliver a whitewash win.
“The Crowd was very hostile, but fair enough you know, he [David Munyua] is the People’s Champion. Someone from Kenya to reach the second round – it’s amazing!,” said Doets, who is nicknamed ‘HawkEye’.
Doets averaged 90.12 despite missing 23 darts at double in his 32 attempts.
He will take on either Nathan Aspinall or Leonard Gates in his second consecutive appearance in R3.
Kenyan King Munyua is now hoping to inspire a nation, saying: “If Munyua is doing it, why not them? There’s nothing that can unite Africa better than sport. I’m sure everybody is celebrating David Munyua across Africa.”
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Munyua returned to the Ally Pally stage and he made quite an entrance!
Former world championship semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens capitalised on a poor doubling display from Wessel Nijman to whitewash the Dutchman and advance.
The ‘German Giant’ averaged 90 and hit three 180s as he demolished a wasteful Nijman, who hit just 20 per cent of his doubles to set up an encounter against either former world champion Luke Humphries or Singapore slinger Paul Lim.
Madars Razma made it through the third round of the Worlds for a third successive year, as he fought back from 2-0 down in the fourth set to defeating Scot Darren Beveridge 3-1.
Along with his three ton-plus checkouts – 121, 110 and 100 – the Latvian averaged 97 and nearly 60 per cent of his doubles.
“That was the best performance for me on this stage,” said Razma.
Luke Humphries’ clash with 71-year-old Paul Lim headlines on Monday night with Gian van Veen, Nathan Aspinall and Charlie Manby also in action.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live all the way through until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407 from December 10). Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
