Ricky Evans says he was sent ‘death threats, hate and fat jokes’ after World Darts Championship defeat to Charlie Manby, but has sent a message back to his abusers.
Rapid was ahead at 1-0 and 2-1 over the unseeded debutant, but eventually lost 3-2 as his performance dramatically declined towards the end of the game.
Frustration set in for the 35-year-old as he once again fell in the last 32, beaten at this stage for the seventh time and yet to progress any further at Alexandra Palace.
Evans appeared to take the defeat on the chin with a social media message later on Monday, hitting back at his critics.
‘Today wasn’t my day, I gave everything I could,’ he wrote. ‘Keep going Charlie, smash it up young man!!!!
‘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❤️
‘I’ve got the best parents & my girlfriend is an absolute worldie can’t wait to spend my winnings x.’
Evans pockets £35,000 for his run to the last 32 in north London but former World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle was one of those critical of how he performed in the final set, accusing him of ‘giving up’.
‘What has to be said is that Ricky Evans, at the end, it was just unprofessional,’ said the Sky Sports pundit.
‘You don’t give up like that and he gave up. He won’t sleep well after reacting the way he did. You just can’t do it.
‘But Charlie, when Ricky was kind of giving up, he just kept his head down, marched on. It’s like: This is none of my concern.
‘That for a 20-year-old with such little experience on the world stage was testament to him and his belief and obviously the people around him have literally said: Charlie, just get on with it, pal. Do what you have to do.
‘But yeah, Ricky will not sleep. He will not like how he reacted to that.’
20-year-old Manby only needed an average of 89.50 to beat Evans and he said he noticed his opponent’s demeanour change as soon as he took the lead in the fifth set.
‘I like Ricky, he’s good, but you can see it changing more or less as soon as I went in front,’ said the Yorkshireman.
‘I got ahead of him and scoring power was always there all game and I just knew if my doubles went, then I’d come out on the right side.’
Manby takes on Gian van Veen in the last 16 and will have to up his game to get the better of the Dutchman who has been impressive so far.
‘I like Gian, I like the way he plays, quick and young player,’ said the Englishman.
‘He’s doing well but so am I. I’m just waiting for my A-game to come. I’ll be here all the time if my A-game comes.’
