JAMES WADE has questioned Ricky Evans’ wacky on-stage approach ahead of their World Championship clash.
‘The Machine’ dispatched Ryusei Azemoto 3-0 in the first round at Ally Pally to end a run of three consecutive defeats at the sport’s showpiece event.
The World No.7 will face Evans in the second round on Monday December 22 and admitted his opponent can be unpredictable on the big stage.
Wade says he is unsure why ‘Rapid Ricky’ has adopted a style and persona similar to former world champion Peter Wright.
He said: “Just him, isn’t it. He can be brilliant, he can be mediocre. But I believe I’m the better player.
“He’s rhythmic, very happy at the moment — which is good for him — but I believe I’m a better player than him.
“We’ve all seen what Ricky does. We’ve all seen how he can be. He seems to have gone further down that route of Peter Wright.
“Not quite sure why. It is what it is, isn’t it? As a dart player, you come to play darts.
“Some players are trying to entertain people outside the game. That’s fine.
“For me, I just come to play darts. I’m quite square. I’m just grateful to win a game or play well.”
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The 11-time major champion says the nerves are still there as he competes in his 22nd World Championship.
He added: “It feels nerve-wracking, same as every TV tournament.
“I get really nervous, get anxious, probably make myself a little bit unwell. That’s my make-up, that’s my character.
“I’ve done more than anyone in respect of playing tournaments and preparing for tournaments, so I probably should be more relaxed than I am – but that’s just the way I am.”
It came after Wade said it was “rude” to suggest Luke Littler and Luke Humphries were are on a collision course to battle for the £1million prize money.
He said: “I don’t know if it’s because players run with their tail between their legs whenever they play them.
“I think it’s clear that Luke and Luke are the two best players in the world. That’s not hard to work out and they’re both playing the best darts.
“But I think it’s quite rude to the other darts players to say: ‘Oh, it’s going to be Luke and Luke.’
“I think there’s some really good dart players out there and past champions have had a lot of luck in the early first or second rounds.
“It’s a long tournament. They’re both clearly the best players in the world at the moment and a lot of players say they’re not frightened to play Luke.
“But I think they are because you get players that are on their game at that time as well and then they don’t turn up. Or they really fluster against Luke.”
