Friendly rivalry a big incentive for county ace

PDC WORLD Championship debutant Ryan Joyce is hoping a run at one of darts’ premier events will can help him catch up to North East friendly rival Chris Dobey.

The Tyne and Wear county star faces three-time BDO ladies world champion Anastasia Dobromyslova in the first round tonight and is proud to represent the region on the world stage.

The expansion of the tournament has also allowed for four North East players to qualify for this year’s competition.

‘Relentless’ Joyce is joined by two-time major quarter-finalist Dobey and former Players Championships winner Paul Nicholson as well as Adam Hunt, who will also make his debut at the Alexandra Palace.

The 33-year-old is a stalwart on the North East darts scene and made the jump to the star-studded Professional Darts Corporation, which has Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson among its ranks.

Joyce also revealed there is a healthy rivalry between himself and Dobey which is helping both players to kick on in the professional circuit.

He said: “I am going to try my best to catch Chris Dobey. That is a little personal target. We have a little bit of rivalry going.

“It is all friendly, we have been friends for many years – way before we both played for the PDC - and it is nice to have that little target in my mind.

“The only reason I started playing darts for the BDO or the PDC is by watching other people I know go and do it.

“It gave me the inspiration to go and do it.

“The better the players do from the North East the more it will inspire people and the more the quality will increase in the future as well.”

The winner of the clash between Joyce and Dobromyslova will face former World Championship finalist Simon Whitlock in round two.