Former darts world champion Richie Burnett has revealed the shocking depths of his financial struggles, admitting he once used radiator water to prepare a Pot Noodle when he couldn't afford a kettle.
The Welshman, who reached world number one during his heyday, told The Mirror about the desperate measures he took whilst competing at a tournament in Wigan.
Burnett recalled: "When times were hard and I had no money, I was in Wigan for a tournament and bought myself a Pot Noodle for my tea.
"But I didn't have a kettle to boil water for it. The only thing I could do was drain the radiator from my room and use the hot water from that.
Richie Burnett won the BDO World Championships in 1995
Getty
"It was all soily and brown but it worked and the Pot Noodle went down okay."
The incident highlighted the dramatic fall from grace for a player who had won the BDO World Championship in 1995 and risen to the top of the tour rankings.
Burnett's ordeal didn't end with the makeshift meal preparation.
Burnett recalled: "But I'd used a pair of nail scissors to open up the valve and it wouldn't shut again, so hot, brown water was leaking out."
JUST IN: Carlos Alcaraz speaks out on Emma Raducanu as star admits he 'will do whatever she wants me to'
Richie Burnett explained he was forced to use radiator water to heat up a pot noodle
Getty
"All I could do was put a tray underneath it to catch it all. I didn't get much sleep because I had to get up every hour to tip the water down the sink."
His financial hardship continued throughout the 2000s as his form deteriorated significantly.
Between 2005 and 2010, his only televised appearance came at the UK Open, alongside a first-round exit at the 2007 PDC World Championship.
Despite a brief resurgence in the early 2010s, including a PDC Pro Tour title in 2011, Burnett faced further setback when he received an 18-month ban from darts in 2015 after testing positive for cocaine.
READ MORE: John McEnroe's staggering net worth revealed as pundit cashes in Wimbledon pay
The 58-year-old returned to competition in late 2016, winning two Challenge Tour tournaments that year.
However, financial pressures continue to drive his career decisions.
Speaking after a recent Modus Super Series appearance, Burnett was brutally honest about his motivation.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Gary Lineker wades into Bob Vylan row as he makes stance clear
- Toto Wolff delivers verdict on Mercedes future amid Max Verstappen rumours
- MMA star suffers huge backlash after giving vape to orangutan in shocking scenes
Richie Burnett has reached the quarter-final of the PDC World Championships on two occasions
Getty
He admitted: "Yeah, I mean look, it's hard. You're going to have good legs and bad legs, but I'm digging in there and I want to win because I'm skint, you know. I need to win."
The "Prince of Wales" enjoyed his most successful period in the mid-1990s, capturing the World Masters and Dutch Open in 1994 before claiming the BDO World Championship crown in 1995 with a 6-3 victory over Raymond van Barneveld.
After switching to the PDC in 1999, Burnett reached the World Matchplay final in 2001, losing to Phil Taylor.
His most recent notable achievement came at the 2023 UK Open, where he defeated two-time world champion Peter Wright en route to the quarter-finals.
Following that performance, an emotional Burnett reflected on his career: "I've earned two fortunes and spent three."
Most Read
