Relentless & Ruthless! Ryan Joyce survives thrilling Ryan Searle fightback to reach last 16 at PDC World Darts Championship

Kicking off the Saturday afternoon third round session at the Alexandra Palace, Ryan Joyce has moved through to the last 16 at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship after an thrilling 4-3 victory over Ryan Searle

Although all the talk pre-tournament has been about the two Lukes (Humphries and Littler ed.), the two Ryans served up a real cracker in this one. In an even opening set, the whole five legs went with the darts before Joyce eventually moved into a 1-0 lead. Second set, again a deciding leg was needed but as Searle messed around, Joyce punished to break throw and make it 2-0.

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Searle wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet though and 'Heavy Metal' opened up set 3 with his first break of throw of the entire contest. Starting off leg with five perfect darts, a comfortable hold followed making it 2-0 to Searle in the set. Despite Joyce taking the next leg, a ruthless 65 checkout secured the set for Searle, halving his deficit in the contest.

Having averaged around 108 in that third set, Searle continued to really motor in set 4, starting off with an effortless hold before breaking the Joyce throw again in the next leg via a 15-darter, and making it 2-0 in the set. After he then missed a set dart at the bullseye though, Joyce broke straight back with a 64 finish on double 8. A 12-darter from Joyce then forced a fifth and deciding leg. 'Relentless' couldn't complete the set turnaround though as Searle, now averaging around 104 for the match took the 4th set and levelled up at 2-2.

Although the momentum seemed to be all on the side of Ryan Searle from there, Joyce had obviously made good use of the interval, refocusing and finding some of best darts of the match in set 5, racing through it double quick time 3-0 to nudge back in front a 3-2 in sets.

That was then made into 4 successive legs in the opening leg of set 6 as Joyce broke the Searle throw again to move just two legs from the last 16. An important hold of throw followed and Joyce was suddenly just one away from the win. Searle though, kept himself alive with an 11-darter in leg 3 and levelled the set in sensational style with a 126 on the bull. A few moments later, the 20th seed completed the set comeback to level the scores at 3-3 and push Joyce back to three legs from victory.

With Joyce offering up some rare missed darts at double in the first leg of set 7, Searle punished to get himself a break of throw up in the decider. Impressively though, Joyce bounced back strongly, breaking immediately in the next leg. After Searle missed a dart at tops to get back in control, Joyce held firm to take the leg and go 2-1 in the 5th set. Neither player looked like bottling it though, and Searle sent us into extra time with an 80 finish.

As Searle then pressured his opponent's throw, sat on tops to go to one from victory, Joyce ensured he himself would move one away with a stunning 113 checkout. A few moments later, Searle then missed a the big 20 to get a dart at double and Joyce punished royally to secure the victory.

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