Copenhagen-bound Evans keeps up his good form

Kettering's Ricky Evans reached another Players Championship quarter-final last weekend

The action kicked off with UK Qualifiers for the ninth and 10th European Tour events of the season.

And while he missed out on a place in the European Darts Matchplay in Hamburg at the end of this month, Evans secured a place in August’s German Darts Championship.

In the opening qualifier, Evans missed out at the final hurdle as he lost 6-3 to Keegan Brown having picked up wins over Adam Huckvale (6-2) and Steve Hine (6-0).

But he went one better in the next event as victories against Bradley Brooks (6-4), Barry Lynn (6-2) and John Davey (6-2) sealed his place in Hildesheim.

Evans’ good fortune continued in the Players Championship 13 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre as he reached another quarter-final.

‘Rapid’ saw off Martin Atkins (6-2), Darren Webster (6-5), Steve West (6-3) and Vincent van der Voort (6-5) to set up a last-eight meeting with Stephen Bunting who secured a 6-2 success over the Kettering man.

It wasn’t so good for Evans in Players Championship 14 as he suffered a first-round exit when lost 6-3 to Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Rushden’s James Richardson had another mixed weekend.

He suffered a first-round exit in the UK Qualifier for the European Darts Matchplay, losing out 6-4 to Jason Lowe.

But he missed out at the final hurdle in his attempt to join Evans in the German Darts Championship.

‘Ruthless’ beat Huckvale 6-3 and Jim Brown 6-0 but then ran into former world champion Adrian Lewis and suffered a 6-3 defeat.

In Players Championship 13, Richardson enjoyed a 6-1 success over John Part but lost 6-2 to Steve Lennon in the last 64.

He had a better time of it in Players Championship 14, however, as the Rushden man saw off Ritchie Edhouse (6-4) and Kim Huybrechts (6-4) before exiting in the last 32 as he was edged out 6-5 by Toni Alcinas.