RICKY EVANS will not be sanctioned for his sarcastic thumbs up to the referee towards the end of an epic and emotional second-round win over James Wade.
Evans, 35, managed to book his spot in the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship for the third successive time with a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Sealed on a score of 99, the Kettering thrower left his family and friends on the edge of their seats as he wasted seven match darts before advancing.
Yet in leg five of the final set, he was on a score of 20 but first missed the double 10 and then the double 5.
This left him on five points and he threw for the single five to try and bust his score, enabling him to return to the oche on 20.
However, he did not throw his last dart correctly – he launched it sidewards out of sheer frustration.
The ref Charlie Corstorphine immediately announced to him and the crowd: “That last dart doesn’t count – underarm throw.”
Evans, the world No.43, looked perplexed and clearly disagreed with the call as he made the underarm motion a few times with his hand towards his corner.
On his next visit, on a score of five, he cleared his thoughts and then threw single one and double two to claim the leg.
As he went to retrieve his equipment, he gave a quick thumbs up to the official.
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SunSport understands that he will not be referred to the disciplinary body Darts Regulation Authority for that action as it was dealt with at the time.
Evans, who has now £35,000 banked from this tournament, will go back home and enjoy Christmas with his family.
The Northamptonshire ace will face either young English lad Charlie Manby or American Adam Sevada in the last 32 and he will need to work out what madcap clothes to wear.
But it has been a difficult time for everyone in his household as his sister Elisha died earlier this year aged just 31.
When he sealed the result and hugged Wade, he pointed a finger to the sky in her memory.
Evans said: “I don’t want to get too emotional. My sister hit that double for me there.
“Elisha, we are going girl, we are going.
“I thought to myself, you have had your chance, Wade will reel you in now. Oh well, who’s still going? Come on!
“The problem is now I am playing after Christmas, I will have to walk on to something not Christmasy. I may have to look like Madonna.
“Who cares? I am still going.
“Imagine coming to darts and winning 3-0 – what’s the point? Make it interesting.
“Makes it exciting. What’s the point in playing boring? Throw slow, throw fast. But make it interesting.
“I said it every year, I am weird, but I am Box Office.”
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