SEARLE FEELS UNWORTHY OF TOP TEN RANKING

RYAN SEARLE insists he doesn’t feel worthy of being world No.8 despite his impressive run at the World Championship.

‘Heavy Metal’ climbed up the PDC Order of Merit after reaching the semi-final at Ally Pally before falling to Luke Littler.

But the Devon thrower reckons he isn’t deserving of a place in the top ten due to a lack of sustained consistency over the past season.

Searle even suggested others have been more worthy of a spot inside the elite.

He told The Darts Show: “It doesn’t really feel like I am world number eight. I don’t think my results consistently really mean I deserve to be world number eight. 

“I got that off one good run — is that really right? I don’t think so.

“If you look at Danny Noppert, who was absolutely flying, he made many semi-finals, so I think he is more deserving. 

“With the way the Worlds prize money is now, that is what is going to happen to people’s rankings.” 

Searle is targeting a maiden European Tour title this season but admits hopes of landing a major are slim while teen sensation Littler continues to dominate the oche. 

He added: “I’d like to win a Euro Tour. I should have won one in Switzerland — not last year, but the year before. 

“I think a European Tour title is the next step for me. It is very tough at the top when you have Luke Littler up there. 

“It doesn’t matter how well you play, I just think he can always up his game. 

“So I don’t really know what you have to do to beat him. I think it will be very difficult to win a major with him around if he is in form. 

“I am happy fighting for the scraps.” 

Searle now turns his attention to the Winmau World Masters, where a daunting opening-round clash with Rob Cross awaits. 

He continued: “I think that is a really tough draw, to be honest. Rob played some really decent stuff at the Worlds. 

“He has had stuff going on behind the scenes, but I am expecting it to be a really hard game. 

“I think overall he is probably up on me as far as matches go. I think the last tie we played was at the World Matchplay two years ago. 

“He averaged around 107 against me — I think it was the highest average of the tournament. 

“I don’t want any more of that.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.