DOUBLE PLOP – Darts star performed ‘commando’ after meals poisoning compelled him to ditch boxers

Ricky Evans reveals he had to ditch his boxers after food poisoning and still nearly won the tournament

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Darts star Ricky Evans has told how he was forced to play commando – after a sudden bout of food poisoning.

The arrows ace said he had no choice but to ditch his boxers after being caught short at the Dutch Darts Championship.

But Ricky said he found the experience of having a ‘bit of air’ on the oche ‘brilliant’.

He fought his way through to the final of the 2018 event in the Dutch city of Maastricht going pants-free to beat unsuspecting opponents Joe Cullen and Willie O’Connor.

Evans, 35, was still flinging freely in the final and – though he lost 8-5 to Ian White – he pocketed £10,000 in prize money as runner-up.

Ricky, 35, nicknamed ‘Rapid’ due to his fast playing style, revealed his embarrassing moment on talkSPORT’s 20 Questions: Around The Clock hosted by Harry Durham.

The star – currently ranked world No46 – said: “I got to the final once in a European Tour event in Maastricht.

“I played Ian White. Did I play Ian White? I did play Ian White, and I played with no pants on.

“I don’t really want to go into detail.

“We had food and I didn’t really help myself. I shouldn’t have done what I did and I had no spares.

“So I took them off, chucked them in the bin, and I played the next three games without any boxers.

“I don’t know why I’ve told you this – I am regretting this right now.”

Ricky had pulled in for a snack the night before the final stages of the tournament with his manager and fellow darts star Stephen Bunting, 40, who is world No9.

“I think I might have had McDonald’s. I don’t know what it was. But maybe the adrenaline or pressure of winning games. I thought it was safe, but it backfired.”

Asked what it was like ‘playing games commando’ Evans replied: “It was brilliant – bit of air.

“I remember one of the games my zip wasn’t going up and I thought, ‘this is just what I need’.

“I remember the players I beat as well. I beat Joe Cullen and Willie O’Connor.

“But I had no boxers on all day.”

It was not the first trouser trouble Evans has had.

During this year’s World Darts Championship Ricky was jeered by fans at the Alexandra Palace after he ripped his pants on the stage during a 3-0 win over Man Lok Leung.

He brought Christmas cheer to the venue by donning a festive outfit to the strains of Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin’ Stevens.

But after the game as he went to retrieve his darts he bent over and ended up splitting his trousers.

Afterwards he said: “I’ve ripped my kecks, haven’t I?

“I’ve only gone and pumped too hard, haven’t I?

“I’d done a few interviews when I got here earlier. I sat down and all I heard was a rip. There was a little hole.

“And now I’ve won the game and I’ve ripped them, so now these will be going in the bin basically.

“I can’t wait to get an Uber home now and the driver’s going to be looking at me and thinking, ‘What are you doing?’”