Ricky Evans has opened up about the exhausting reality of life on the PDC circuit, confessing he's "knackered" from constantly living out of a suitcase. The 35-year-old Englishman, who has been on tour for almost fifteen years without a tournament win but is a fan favourite for his walk-ons and Santa Claus appearances at the World Darts Championship, told Tungsten Tales: "I'm playing a lot more darts than most people do. But I'm knackered." He added humorously, "My mum and dad must think I'm a refugee or something, they must think, 'Who are you?' because I'm never at home."
Evans, currently world number 45, highlighted the particular strain for players outside the elite tier, noting: "I can't imagine what the Humphries and the Gezzys are like, because they've got their own houses as well. It's a hard game when you're travelling." Unlike top stars who can afford to rest, he lacks that luxury, driven by the need to collect ranking points and qualify for majors. "If I was in their situation, I'd pull out. I'd say, 'No, I don't want to play this anymore,' but I can't," he admitted, with his clear aim being to reach Alexandra Palace for the Worlds—an event he's never missed in 13 years as a tour card holder.
Despite the fatigue, Evans' love for darts keeps him going. "I love darts. That's the reason I'm here," he said, illustrating his commitment by jumping at a last-minute chance to play in the Belgian Darts Open in Wieze after other withdrawals. "As soon as I got told last week, my manager was like, 'You're booked, Brussels, you're in. Boom, straight in.' It's a free shot, isn't it? Because I didn't qualify." He ultimately reached the second round, losing 6–5 to Ryan Searle.
