“I’ve been putting a bit more effort in” - Ryan Searle hints at higher ceiling after Ross Smith denies him first Euro Tour title

Ryan Searle’s wait for a first European Tour title goes on, but his 8-3 defeat to Ross Smith in the International Darts Open final in Riesa came with a typically blunt admission: putting in a bit more work had already changed the direction of his weekend.

Smith claimed his own first European Tour crown at the fifth attempt, while Searle was left with a second defeat in a Euro Tour final after a flat performance in the title match.

Speaking on stage afterwards with MC Philip Brzezinski, Searle pointed to missed doubles, the toll of his semi-final against Rob Cross, and the benefit of a sharper build-up.

Asked about the doubles that failed to land in the final, Searle kept it simple. “They were close, they just weren’t quite getting in,” he said. “That happens sometimes, it happens to everyone.”

The final never quite caught fire for Searle. Smith held with a 72 finish in the opening leg, and although Searle levelled on double 10, the first big shift came when Smith punished two missed darts from Searle to break for 3-1.

Searle hit straight back with a clean 60 finish, but Smith found the stronger darts in the key moments. At 2-4, Searle missed the bull for a 132 finish, then failed to take out 25 after Smith had missed tops. Smith returned for double 10 and opened a 5-2 lead.

There was one brief opening when Smith missed four darts around double 16 and double 8, allowing Searle to close to 3-5. It did not last. Smith moved 6-3 clear, then took out 60 to go within one leg of the title before sealing the win on double 10.

For Searle, the feeling was that his biggest effort had come one round earlier. “I think I shot my bolt a little bit against Cross in the semi,” he admitted. “It was a fantastic game and it was a little bit flat in the final, but it happens. It’s all experience.”

That semi-final had taken plenty out of him. Cross dragged the match all the way to a deciding leg with finishes of 126, 130, 164 and 170, only for Searle to answer with a 130 checkout on the bullseye to win 7-6.

Even so, Searle did not leave Riesa empty-handed in terms of progress. “Like I just said to my partner then, I would have taken a final before the weekend started,” he said.

Then came the line that gave his run a wider context. “The way things have been going, I’ve not been putting much effort in,” Searle admitted. “It just shows, the last week or two I’ve been putting a bit more effort in and it kind of shows what I can do.”

Searle has never been one to overcomplicate his own form, and this was another blunt assessment. The title went to Smith, but Searle’s run past Gian van Veen and Rob Cross offered a clear reminder of what is still there when his level rises.

“If I just keep that going, we’re heading in the right direction,” he added in conclusion.