‘This one’s for you’ – Darts star breaks down in tears and dedicates win to sister after heartbreaking death
There were moving scenes in the darts on Friday night as Englishman Ricky Evans knocked former world champion Raymond van Barneveld out of the European Darts Trophy. The 34-year-old from Kettering was in tears after hitting a 12-darter to beat the Dutchman as he paid tribute to his sister who recently passed away. Evans’ victory over Van Barneveld was an emotional one following the death of his sisterPDC Darts Evans shared this tribute to his late sister on social mediaFacebook: Rapid Ricky Evans Evans dedicated the win to his late younger sister Elisha, who he announced at the beginning of March had tragically died suddenly. Posting on his Facebook page on March 1, Evans wrote: “My beautiful little sister Elisha… I love you so much. I’ll always be your best friend.” Messages of support of ‘Rapid’ poured in from the world of darts, with his management posting their own condolences. “We send our deepest condolences to Ricky Evans and his family and friends, after the devastating news of the sudden passing of his sister Elisha,” a statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you Ricky.” Evans took a short break from competing following the tragic news, but was back in action on March 11 in a PDC Players Championship event in the UK before the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen, Germany, where he took on Barney in the first round. The Brit won the meeting 6-4, securing the win with double 16 when his emotion of the last few weeks came pouring out. Ahead of Friday night’s game Evan had posted on social media: “All set and ready for tonight’s match. This one’s for you sis.” Evans later defended Van Barneveld who had drawn criticism from darts fans for his reaction to the defeat. The Dutchman gave the Englishman the briefest of handshakes before trudging his way off the stage and out of the arena following the game. Evans couldn’t hold back the tearsPDC Darts Darts fans were not happy with former world champion Van Barneveld for his reaction to the defeat and quick exit out of the arenaPDC Darts He was clearly frustrated with his own performance, and yet fans accused him of a ‘lack of respect’ for Evans and what he has been through by not congratulating him properly. “Barney should be ashamed of himself,” wrote one fan on X. Other comments read, “So poor from Barney”, “Disgusting behaviour from the former world champion” and “Raymond’s utter lack of respect for Ricky in general, let alone given the circumstances he’s playing under right now is astounding – shame on you”. However, Evans posted on Facebook on Saturday evening to explain how Barney had been one of the first to speak to him after the news of his sister’s death, and how there is nothing but respect between the two darts stars. “Hi all, I’m seeing Raymond get a lot of unnecessary hate on social media, and I just wanted to address this,” Evans wrote. “Raymond was the first person to come up to me in Leicester at the recent Pro Tour events to offer his sympathy for my recent bad news, and I love and respect him massively. Evans will take on fellow Englishman Dave Chisnall in the next round of the European Darts TrophyPDC Darts “We have spoken this morning, and he wished me well for the rest of the tournament. There is no bad blood or issue at all between us, we both just wanted to win last night.” Evans faces Dave Chisnall in the next round on Saturday night in the latest meeting in their recent rivalry. Chisnall was knocked out of the PDC World Championship by Evans in dramatic circumstances in December. Their third-round tie went to a final-leg decider, which ‘Rapid’ won having been on the verge of losing earlier on, but the game will be remembered for Chisnall’s embarrassing gaffe as he miscounted to leave him short of a checkout. ‘Chizzy’ did later get his revenge at the UK Open in February as he knocked Evans out in the second round, but fans will be hoping for another memorable encounter between the English duo.
There were moving scenes in the darts on Friday night as Englishman Ricky Evans knocked former world champion Raymond van Barneveld out of the European Darts Trophy.
The 34-year-old from Kettering was in tears after hitting a 12-darter to beat the Dutchman as he paid tribute to his sister who recently passed away.
Evans dedicated the win to his late younger sister Elisha, who he announced at the beginning of March had tragically died suddenly.
Posting on his Facebook page on March 1, Evans wrote: “My beautiful little sister Elisha… I love you so much. I’ll always be your best friend.”
Messages of support of ‘Rapid’ poured in from the world of darts, with his management posting their own condolences.
“We send our deepest condolences to Ricky Evans and his family and friends, after the devastating news of the sudden passing of his sister Elisha,” a statement read.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you Ricky.”
Evans took a short break from competing following the tragic news, but was back in action on March 11 in a PDC Players Championship event in the UK before the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen, Germany, where he took on Barney in the first round.
The Brit won the meeting 6-4, securing the win with double 16 when his emotion of the last few weeks came pouring out.
Ahead of Friday night’s game Evan had posted on social media: “All set and ready for tonight’s match. This one’s for you sis.”
Evans later defended Van Barneveld who had drawn criticism from darts fans for his reaction to the defeat.
The Dutchman gave the Englishman the briefest of handshakes before trudging his way off the stage and out of the arena following the game.
He was clearly frustrated with his own performance, and yet fans accused him of a ‘lack of respect’ for Evans and what he has been through by not congratulating him properly.
“Barney should be ashamed of himself,” wrote one fan on X.
Other comments read, “So poor from Barney”, “Disgusting behaviour from the former world champion” and “Raymond’s utter lack of respect for Ricky in general, let alone given the circumstances he’s playing under right now is astounding – shame on you”.
However, Evans posted on Facebook on Saturday evening to explain how Barney had been one of the first to speak to him after the news of his sister’s death, and how there is nothing but respect between the two darts stars.
“Hi all, I’m seeing Raymond get a lot of unnecessary hate on social media, and I just wanted to address this,” Evans wrote.
“Raymond was the first person to come up to me in Leicester at the recent Pro Tour events to offer his sympathy for my recent bad news, and I love and respect him massively.
“We have spoken this morning, and he wished me well for the rest of the tournament. There is no bad blood or issue at all between us, we both just wanted to win last night.”
Evans faces Dave Chisnall in the next round on Saturday night in the latest meeting in their recent rivalry.
Chisnall was knocked out of the PDC World Championship by Evans in dramatic circumstances in December.
Their third-round tie went to a final-leg decider, which ‘Rapid’ won having been on the verge of losing earlier on, but the game will be remembered for Chisnall’s embarrassing gaffe as he miscounted to leave him short of a checkout.
‘Chizzy’ did later get his revenge at the UK Open in February as he knocked Evans out in the second round, but fans will be hoping for another memorable encounter between the English duo.
