'Rapid' Ricky is ready for the 'FA Cup of Darts'

Ricky Evans is pleased to be heading to this weekend’s PDC Ladbrokes UK Open as “one of the big boys”.

The Kettering darts star’s performances over the last couple of years have helped him become one of the top 32 players in the world and he will go straight into the fourth round of the ‘FA Cup of Darts’, which gets under way tomorrow (Friday).

The hectic schedule will see the first three rounds played tomorrow afternoon before Evans and the other seeds enter the competition tomorrow night.

The open draw format means there’s no guarantee of who a player might face and that’s a situation ‘Rapid’ loves.

The PDC Pro Tour got under way last week with a Super Series incorporating the first four Players Championship events of the year.

Evans, playing in front of bosses of his new management team MDA Promotions, reached the last 32 of two of the four events.

But he is hoping to feel a bit more relaxed when he competes in the UK Open at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

“It wasn’t a bad start,” Evans said.

“I am in a new stable with new management and I have done a bit of tweaking with the equipment.

“It was a positive start but I was probably trying to impress a bit too much with the new manager being there.

“Hopefully this weekend I can relax a bit more. I am looking forward to it.

“I am classed as one of the big boys because I am in that top 32 and that makes me proud.

“When you look at the players who are in round one, it just shows you how incredible the standard is.

“So to be straight into the fourth round and guaranteed money is great.

“I think the longer format will suit me but it’s a lottery when it comes to the draw.

“You could be playing Michael van Gerwen or the lowest-ranked player.

“That’s the beauty of it and that’s why they call it the FA Cup of Darts. I absolutely love this event and the format.”