"It’s going to take something special to stop me” - Ryan Searle full of confidence by impressive World Matchplay opener

Ryan Searle reached the quarter-finals at last year's World Matchplay and is determined to do at least as well again in 2024. 'Heavy Metal made an impressive start in his opening match, taking a 10-4 win over the very capable Australian, Damon Heta.

Searle did not get off to a great start and quickly found himself trailing 2-0. The 36-year-old Englishman was able to win ten of the next twelve legs. “Something has just clicked for me over the last few days,” admitted the 36-year-old post-match. “The way I was practising before my game tonight, I felt like I was going to hit a nine-darter – they were going in that nicely!"

Searle, who hit the highest average of the tournament in his first round game last year, immediately reached a high level again this time around, posting an average of no less than 101.01. “I’m going to need to continue playing like I did tonight, and if I can get my scoring and finishing together, it’s going to take something special to stop me,” he assesses full of confidence.

One time early in the match, Heta celebrated particularly exuberantly, and that had Searle ectra motivated. "It jeered me up when he gave it the big one," Searle explains with a wry smile referring to an occasion where Heta hit a 171 set up shot, only for Searle to immediately dampen his opponent's excitement with a ton plus checkout in response. "That just sort of fires me up to take out my shot. It's nice when they go in."

In the next round, Searle will now face off against Rob Cross, who earlier in the tournament survived six missed match darts from Gian van Veen to prevail by the skin of his teeth in a deciding leg on Sunday evening.