“My daughter is quite severe, she’s registered as visually impaired” – Ryan Searle hopes to raise money and awareness for hereditary eye condition during Ally Pally run

Ryan Searle produced the biggest result of his career at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, reaching the semi-finals for the first time with a 5–2 victory over Jonny Clayton. The contest was tense and scrappy at times, but when the pressure peaked, Searle held his nerve, particularly on the doubles, and that proved decisive.

“It feels special,” Searle said afterwards. “Me and Jonny didn’t play particularly well there, but I felt that in the highest-pressure moments I was finding some really good finishes.”

One of those moments came with a 111 checkout to move 4–1 clear. “The 111 to go 4–1 up was a massive moment because he was starting to come back,” Searle explained. “With the ranking money on the line, it puts a lot of pressure on you and it’s hard to perform under that.”

That pressure, he admitted, made it difficult to play freely. “It’s hard to deal with, especially when you expect more from your opponent and from yourself,” he said. “But I’m proud of myself for getting over the line.”

Statistically, Searle’s finishing stood out. Checking out at 57 percent, he underlined his reputation as one of the circuit’s most reliable closers. “That’s tournament-winning finishing,” he said. “I don’t know my overall stats, but they must be near 50 percent.”

Even so, he remained self-critical. “I just need to up my scoring a bit,” Searle added. “Backstage I’ve been hitting trebles for fun, but it didn’t quite happen out there. Pressure can do that to you.”

The win also carried major ranking implications, lifting Searle into the world’s top eight for the first time. “Obviously it’s a proud moment,” he said. “Do I feel like I deserve it just off one tournament run? I’m not sure.”

He acknowledged how the current prize-money structure can accelerate progress. “With the money the way it is now, that’s what can happen,” Searle said. “We’ll see where we go from here.”

That new status could open doors, including potential World Series invitations. “It would be nice,” he admitted. “But we’ll see what happens.”

Despite being just two wins away from the world title, Searle refused to look too far ahead. “No, not yet,” he said. “I’ve got two really tough games left and potentially the toughest of all against Luke Littler if he gets past Krzysztof. If Luke wins, I’m probably not expected to win that game, and that can help lift the pressure.”

Asked whether the match carried more pressure than previous finals, Searle was clear. “I would say so, yeah, because of where we are and what’s on the line,” he said.

He knew exactly what defeat would have meant. “I knew if I lost today I’d be world number 13,” Searle explained. “Being comfortably in the top 16 now helps a lot. I know where I stand and that’s a big help.”

With his ranking rising, Searle has been mentioned as a possible Premier League Darts outsider. He remains realistic. “I’ve said privately that the Premier League is something I’d like to do once, just to say I’ve done it,” he said.

Pointing to Chris Dobey’s path last year, Searle added with a smile: “I’m not sure if my face fits. Look at me. That’s as simple as that.” Still, if the call came, there would be no hesitation. “If they ask me, I’d snap their hand off.”

Family support has been a recurring theme throughout Searle’s tournament. “I travel around Europe and the UK on my own a lot, so having them there means a lot,” he said. Even small boosts matter. “It might only be one or two percent, but at this level that can make a difference.”

A deeply personal aspect of his run has been his openness about his eyesight. Searle lives with a hereditary visual condition that also affects his children. “My daughter’s is quite severe and she’s registered as visually impaired,” he said.

Using his platform to raise awareness has become a priority. “ViaPlay have been brilliant and have helped raise around €15,000 so far,” Searle said. “That could be huge for the charity and I’m really proud of that.”

His condition can even affect matches themselves. “Sometimes I have to ask the caller what I’ve scored, which can put me in a difficult position,” he explained. “But if I can inspire people with similar issues to pick up darts and give it a go, that means a lot.”

The Alexandra Palace crowd has increasingly taken to Searle, chanting his name as he closed out the win. He believes the reason is simple. “I think I’m just a bit different,” he said. “I get on with the game and don’t mess around.”

As for preparing for the semi-final, his plan is straightforward. “I’m going to chill out, get some food, watch the last episode of Stranger Things,” Searle smiled. “Maybe have a little throw. We’ll see.”