SEARLE SAYS ANDO IS BEST IN WORLD

RYAN SEARLE vowed that Gary Anderson is the “best player in the world” after beating him in the final of Players Championship 3. 

‘Heavy Metal’ beat practice pal Ando in a deciding leg 8-7 with a stunning 107.63 average to pick up the £15,000 winner’s prize pot. 

Searle had lost to Scottish legend Anderson after finishing runner-up in both of last week’s opening two ProTour events, but he avenged that defeat with a sensational display at the Mattioli Arena.

Anderson had remarkably registered ton-plus averages in six of his seven matches.

The 53-year-old boasted an extraordinary tournament average of 105.85 and crashed in 41 180s throughout the day – obliterating Dave Chisnall’s previous Players Championship record of 35.

Searle, 36, said: “I wasn’t at my best today, but when it came to the final, I feel like I played pretty well.

“I believe that Gary is probably the best player in the world, and I’ve said that for a long time. When you’re practising against him he’s banging in 180 after 180 and taking out massive finishes.

“Me and Gary have only practiced twice together this year. He is playing phenomenal darts at the moment, so I’m happy to be able to get one over on him for once!

“To make three finals in a row and win one of them is a big achievement, because these events are not easy.

“I don’t set myself targets. I just turn up and play and whatever happens, happens.

“I wish I had Luke Humphries’ focus, where he wanted to be in the Premier League, he wanted to be world number one. I think that would probably help me, but it’s just not me!”

The Somerset star raced into an early 3-0 lead before Anderson opened his account with a spectacular 164 checkout.

The Scot threatened to complete an astonishing comeback after reeling off the next three legs without reply, featuring a superb 11-dart break of throw in leg 11.

However, Searle defied a 177 set-up shot from Anderson to move to the cusp of victory at 7-6, before piling in a brace of maximums in a last-leg shoot-out to seal the deal inside 14 darts.

Anderson averaged 112 in his opening round demolition of Jeffrey de Graaf, before almost usurping that in his semi-final success against Callan Rydz, producing winning legs of 13, 12, 13, 13, 12, 12 and 11 darts.

Elsewhere in Leicester, Ryan Meikle produced the fourth nine-darter on the Players Championship circuit in 2024, achieving perfection during his first round victory against Geert Nentjes.

Images by Taylor Lanning.