JOYCE ADMITS WORKING OUT NEARLY COST HIM AT FLANDERS OPEN

RYAN JOYCE blamed sore muscles from working out for his lacklustre display after squeezing into round three of the Flanders Darts Trophy. 

World No. 24 Joyce edged out Ricardo Pietreczko 6-5 in Antwerp and averaged just 88.36 in round one. 

‘Relentless’ is now into the last 16 at Belgium and will play on Sunday after Gerwyn Price pulled out of the competition with an infected hand. 

Joyce admits he was “lucky” to scrape through after his new fitness regime left him unable to practice heading into the European Tour event. 

He said: “There were some really bad moments in that game. We were both miles off it. 

“Whoever was going to lose that game was going to be frustrated that they missed a good opportunity to get through to the next round. 

“I didn’t know [I was straight through to the last 16] I heard a few players pulled out, but Gerwyn Price was not mentioned. 

“I’ve got an excuse for not being good, I don’t know about him. I’ve been trying to lose some weight. 

“I’ve been working out and I haven’t been able to practice because my muscles really hurt after working out. 

“I am just amazed I managed to get through that game, I think I was lucky.” 

Newcastle thrower Joyce had made a bright start to the year, reaching the final of the European Darts Trophy and the semi-final of the Austrian Open.  

But the 39-year-old has failed to reach a single quarter-final in any of the four majors he’s competed in.

Joyce was most recently dumped out in the first round of the World Matchplay, losing 10-8 to Stephen Bunting.

Image by Taylor Lanning.