"I’m more interested in playing Call of Duty, and that’s the problem": 10 minutes a day practice for Ryan Searle still gleams ProTour titles

After a day in which he appeared to dispatch his opponents with ease, Ryan Searle was back in the spotlight. The 38-year-old Englishman claimed his first title of the year on the PDC Pro Tour, extending an impressive streak: for seven straight years he has won at least one tournament at this level. What makes the achievement even more striking is the casual way Searle himself describes his preparation.

Searle defeated Alan Soutar 8-3 in the final of the seventh Players Championship of the year.

“Yeah, I don’t know. It’s probably not a good thing because, like I’ve said in previous interviews, I’ve literally been practicing 10 minutes a day. So to turn up today and win is probably not a good thing because it’s not going to kick me up the backside to do any more practice.”

It’s a remark that seems to run counter to elite sport, where discipline and hours of practice are often seen as the keys to success. Yet Searle showed that sheer class and match sharpness can sometimes be just as important. Throughout the day, no opponent really got close; most were beaten by several legs.

What stood out most was the consistency in Searle’s game. From the opening match through to the final he played solidly and in control. Strikingly, he posted his best average—statistically—in his match against Raymond van Barneveld, even though that tie felt the least fluent to him.

“Yeah, to be fair, I played really solid. Averages-wise, my best was against Barney, and feeling-wise, that felt the worst, which was a bit odd.”

In the final he faced Alan Soutar, who certainly wasn’t far off in terms of level. Soutar played soundly and could have made it closer, had he not missed chances on the doubles at key moments.

“But yeah, that final there—Alan played decent, and if it wasn’t for a few doubles that he missed, it could have been way, way closer than what it was.”

With this title Searle adds another chapter to his own career history. Winning a PDC Pro Tour event in seven consecutive years is a feat that speaks to high-level consistency. And while he remains laid-back about his success, he knows full well it’s something special.

“Yeah, of course. We’re still in March. Was it March that I was always winning one, or was it February? Usually earlier in the year, I thought. But yeah, March is usually pretty good.”

“Yeah, so February/March time is usually my time of the year. So yeah, if we can try and pick up another one or maybe two to sort of break new ground, we’ll be trying to do that.”

That down-to-earth attitude typifies Searle. While others dissect their performances or declare big goals, he stays strikingly relaxed. Behind that demeanor, though, is a player who is increasingly cementing himself among the world’s elite.

In recent years Searle has hit several highs, including a run to the final at the Players Championship Finals and a semi-final at the World Championship. The latter in particular is regarded as a major milestone.

Although such results often spark fresh motivation, Searle admits it works differently for him. “Probably. I don’t really know, to be honest. I’ve had a bit more attention with interviews and stuff, which has been really good because I’ve been able to raise awareness for the Cure ADOA Foundation for the eyesight for my daughter and stuff. That’s been really good.”

On the sporting side, however, he feels less urgency. “But motivation-wise, I’ve not had a huge amount since the Worlds—and like I say, I’ve literally not been practicing.”

Even so, getting match reps outside official tournaments clearly helped him. Shortly before this Pro Tour event, Searle played a few exhibitions, including against Gary Anderson and alongside Ross Smith.

“On Friday night, to be fair, that’s the most darts I’ve thrown. Me and Ross Smith did one on Saturday night in Jersey as well, so that was probably a really good warm-up for this, to be fair.”

He notably prefers to unwind away from the oche. “Not at home on the board, though. I’m more interested in playing Call of Duty, and that’s the problem.”

Despite his laid-back approach, Searle certainly has ambitions. The next step in his career, he believes, lies on the PDC European Tour. “Yeah, so the next thing—I’d like to win a Euro Tour. That’s the next goal, just to prove that I can win one on the big stage.”

He is determined to play as many of those events as possible this season. “Yeah, I might not be here tomorrow or in Wigan, but I’ll be in all the Euro Tours.”

With a wink, he references his travel mate Gary Anderson: “Unlike Gary—I try to get him along to as many as possible, but he stitches me up and lets me travel on my own quite a lot!”

That light tone doesn’t hide the fact Searle is realistic about the challenges ahead. On the European Tour the competition is brutal and fine margins decide matches. He vividly recalls being knocked out at a recent event after a decisive moment. “I think I played pretty well at the last one. Danny Noppert hit a 12-darter at 5-5 against me, and that happens sometimes.”

It’s exactly that blend of level-headedness and quality that makes Searle a dangerous outsider at any tournament he enters. He may not have the training ethic of some colleagues, but he possesses natural talent and a relaxed mindset that can take him far.

Whether Searle can back up his title immediately remains uncertain. Afterward, he left it open whether he would play again the next day. “We’ll see what the boss says in a minute!”