SUPER SEARLE WINS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR

By Aaron Nijjar  

RYAN SEARLE defeated Cameon Menzies 8-3 to win the Players Championship four in Rosmalen, Netherlands.  

‘Heavymetal’ has now won a ProTour title every year since 2020.  

World No.18 Searle on his way to the final had fought off Florian Hempel (6-0), Mensur Suljovic (6-2), Owen Bates (6-1), Mickey Mansell (6-5), William O’Connor (6-4) and Stefan Bellmont (7-6).  

The six-time Players Championship winner had hit four ton-plus averages throughout the day including a ludicrous 109 average against practice partner Owen Bates.  

In the final the first significant turning point came in the fifth leg, as Searle broke Menzies’ throw with a 13-darter to take the advantage. A pair of 180s in the following leg helped the Englishman extend his lead to 4-2. 

Searle then secured a crucial double break in leg nine with a stunning 110 checkout and moved 6-3 ahead to take firm control of the match. 

A hold of throw in leg 10 with a glorious 100 checkout put him on the brink of victory, and moments later, he sealed the title with an 8-3 triumph, hitting double top to complete the win. 

After his victory, Searle revealed he has put more effort into his game this year by increasing his practice with the hope to be consistent and win more titles on tour. 

He said: “I want to push forward and do more than what I’ve done in the past. That’s not just win titles but to put a bit more effort into my game than I do normally.  

“My whole life I have done the bare minimum to get by. Luckily enough I’m half decent at darts without putting much effort in.  

“Obviously I’m using new darts this season as well. They’re going really well. There are not many people that can swap equipment and hit the ground running.”  

He added: “After the Worlds that was a bit of a gut-wrenching loss to Ryan Joyce where I feel like I played really well. I lost with a 101 average and 50 percent on my finishing. Not many people lose with that.  

“As soon as I got home I threw my old darts away and got my new ones out and I’m on the board constantly.”

Searle is now on the verge of breaking into the top 16 order of merit. However the 37-year-old is wary of the challenges that come with it.

He admitted: “It’s nice to get back in the top 16, but do I want to be number 16 in the world? Probably not. I’m playing Luke Humphries in the last 16 of every tournament, so if you can avoid that, it’s probably best off.

“Even if you’re 15, you’re playing Luke Littler, so those sort of players you want to try and avoid. “Not that I don’t believe in my own ability. It’s just there’s better games out there than that.”  

Although, Searle was delighted to have won six PDC titles.

He said: “To win six PDC titles is amazing. When you look at the list of really good players that have never won a PDC title before.  

“So, to win six in six years running is a great achievement for me. If I can win another this year that will be a boundary crossed.” 

Image by Taylor Lanning.