“Paddy Power were amazing... they didn’t have to do that” – Ryan Searle hails World Championship support as over €50,000 raised for eye condition

Ryan Searle has praised the role of Paddy Power during the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship after a campaign that helped raise more than €50,000 for awareness and research into a rare eye condition affecting both him and his daughter.

Speaking to Online Darts, Searle highlighted the impact of the initiative, which saw traditional 180 boards and arena branding blurred during matches to draw attention to the cause. “Paddy Power were amazing. That’s something they didn’t have to do, raising awareness by blurring out the signs and everything around the arena. Fair play to them.”

The activation proved to be far more than a visual gesture, driving engagement from viewers watching at home and prompting questions about the reason behind the unusual broadcast look.

“I think it was a really good thing, and it got people engaging with it as well," added 'Heavy Metal'. When people turned the TV on and saw everything blurry, they were wondering why, and it made them look into it.”

The awareness push translated directly into funding, with Searle outlining just how significant the difference was compared to previous efforts. “To put things into perspective, we raised over €50,000 during the World Championship. In the whole year before that, they had only raised €5,000. So we had 10 times that just over the World Championship,” Searle explained.

Further initiatives are already planned across upcoming tournaments as Searle looks to build on that momentum and keep the issue in the spotlight. “We’ve got a few things planned for some upcoming tournaments, just to try and raise a bit more awareness.”

On the oche, Searle’s run to the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace marked one of the standout performances of his career, both in terms of results and how he felt under pressure. “At the Worlds, that was probably the most comfortable I’ve ever felt. I don’t really know why, and I’d like to be able to put my finger on it.”

That level has not yet translated consistently across the rest of the season, with the Englishman admitting that his preparation has dipped since the turn of the year. “Practice hasn’t really been happening much since the Worlds. I’ve lost a little bit of motivation, but we’re just ticking along nicely.”

The contrast has been most noticeable on the Euro Tour, where Searle has struggled to replicate his Alexandra Palace level despite proving he can deliver on the biggest stage. “I’ve had a couple of dodgy performances in Euro Tours since then, which is strange because if you can do it on the biggest stage under all that pressure, you should be able to do it all the time.”

With the season unfolding, Searle has already identified the next key target in his calendar, with the World Matchplay firmly in his sights. “The next tournament I’m really up for is the Matchplay, so I’ll be getting ready for that.”

Beyond that, his goals remain straightforward, centred more on performance than outcomes. “I’d like to try and win a Euro Tour, and keep up the streak of winning at least one Pro Tour a year.”

At the heart of it all is a familiar challenge, finding a way to reproduce his best level across every event, not just the biggest stages. “Maybe it’s a mental thing, maybe I’m not as up for Euro Tours compared to the Worlds. It’s something I need to work on.”

For Searle, the path forward is clear. The level is there, as shown at the World Championship. The next step is turning that into consistency across the full season.