Breakout darts star Charlie Manby is set for extra support against Gian van Veen tonight – after his girlfriend was given special dispensation to attend.
Manby, 20, has enjoyed a dream debut at Alexandra Palace and is just one match away from reaching the quarter-finals.
But the bricklayer from Huddersfield fumed after beating Ricky Evans in the last 32 because his girlfriend Tia was not given time off to attend by her employer.
‘My girlfriend’s not here today. That was heartbreaking enough,’ he lamented after beating the rapid-throwing Evans. ‘She was absolutely gutted. I think it was a bit out of order to be honest. People don’t understand things might not work out the same if she’s here or not.’
But Daily Mail Sport can exclusively share that Tia has now been given extra annual leave to attend Manby’s clash at Ally Pally tonight.
A spokesperson from TrustFord Huddersfield confirmed that although Tia had already used her annual leave, some of which she’d used to support Charlie previously, they gave her extra time to attend this latest round of the competition. ‘The company would like to wish Charlie Manby every success in the competition,’ the spokesperson added.
Charlie Manby’s girlfriend Tia will be allowed to attend his World Darts Championship match tonight in the last 16 against Gian van Veen
Manby criticised Tia’s employer after she was not given time off to attend his last-32 clash against Ricky Evans
Manby has the chance to bag £100,000 if he reaches the quarter-finals.
He will also earn a PDC tour card if he reaches the last eight.
The youngster, who ranks 163rd in the world, has defeated Cameron Menzies, Adam Sevada, and Evans to reach the fourth round.
Menzies was so frustrated after his defeat by Manby that he piled a series of punches into his drinks table, giving him a blood-soaked hand.
The Scot later revealed that it had been a difficult time due to the death of his uncle Gary and he apologised personally to Manby.
While he has become known to the wider public this month, Manby had already been making waves in the darts community for his performances earlier this year.
He threw a remarkable 130.70 average on the Winmau Development Tour in February, smashing Luke Littler’s record of 115.22, and that added pressure on him.
‘I think when you have that sort of stat to your name, you’ve got a bit of a target on your back and people have that extra fight in them when they’re playing you to do well and beat you,’ he said.
‘I think my confidence dropped a bit after that so it was just finding your confidence where it needs to be and I think I managed to do that quite sharpish.
The bricklayer has stunned fans with his sensational run to the last 16 on his debut aged 20
‘People are playing their A-game against you all the time because they just want to beat you. It was just confidence, where I think it just dropped off a bit, but I built my way back up.
‘Littler also has a target on his back, but he seems to relish it. People are different, aren’t they? Everyone’s different in darts. Nobody’s the same.’
He went on to win the Development Tour in September and pushed Littler all the way in a World Youth Championship match in October.
