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Ricky Evans was branded unprofessional by Wayne Mardle following his World Darts Championship defeat to Charlie Manby. The Kettering favourite is known for his entertaining style and had captivated audiences with his showmanship and performance during his two previous matches at Alexandra Palace. He was in high spirits as he entered the arena to face Manby, wielding pom-poms after his walkout to a Madonna track.

However, everything unravelled for Evans against Manby and, as the contest slipped from his grasp, his focus, concentration and enthusiasm appeared to evaporate simultaneously. Former professional and Sky Sports pundit Mardle praised the 20-year-old for his composure under pressure on such a significant stage and for seeing the job through.

Yet Mardle delivered a damning verdict on Evans and his response when the match began turning against him.

He commented: "Look, Charlie's one of these kids, and they're all kids to me. He's 20, he is a kid, but he's learning very, very quickly.

"Where I was most impressed with him is that he was missing and missing and missing. We were getting frustrated watching him, but he was keeping it all in check.

"But what has to be said is that Ricky Evans, at the end, it was just unprofessional. You don't give up like that and he gave up. He won't sleep well after reacting the way he did. You just can't do it.

"But Charlie, when Ricky was kind of giving up, he just kept his head down, marched on. It's like: This is none of my concern.

"That for a 20-year-old with such little experience on the world stage was testament to him and his belief and obviously the people around him have literally said: Charlie, just get on with it, pal. Do what you have to do.

"But yeah, Ricky will not sleep. He will not like how he reacted to that."

Evans has consistently struggled to progress beyond the last 32 stage at Ally Pally throughout his career, and his frustration was palpable as he faced another impending exit.

Manby observed a shift in his opponent's attitude and character as he began to accumulate leg wins and inch closer to victory.

He commented: "I like Ricky, he's good, but you can see it changing more or less as soon as I went in front. I got ahead of him and scoring power was always there all game and I just knew if my doubles went, then I'd come out on the right side."

Manby, who has been outstanding in his debut, was ultimately beaten by European champion Gian van Veen in the round of 16.