Ryan Searle misses 7 (!) match darts allowing Martin Schindler to take title at Swiss Darts Trophy 2024

Martin Schindler emerged the winner of the Swiss Darts Trophy in Basel. In a surprising final, Martin Schindler won 7-6 over Ryan Searle, who missed seven chances to win a Euro Tour title for the first time in his career.

Schindler was in a Euro Tour final for the second time this year, having already won the International Darts Open earlier this year. 'The Wall' defeated Anton Östlund (6-1), Stephen Bunting (6-4), Raymond van Barneveld (6-4) and Josh Rock (7-2) to reach the final in Switzerland. Searle meanwhile, reached the final of a Euro Tour event for the first time in his career. Heavy Metal did so by consecutively handling Roger Hertig (6-1), Madars Razma (6-2), Daryl Gurney (6-2 and Callan Rydz (7-1).

It then looked like Searle was going to be the winner of the first-ever PDC tournament in Switzerland. The Englishman was very effective in the early stages and quickly grabbed a 4-0 lead. In the fifth leg, Searle missed one chance to make it 5-0 before Schindler began his comeback with a 56 finish. Although Searle still made it 5-1, Schindler came back to 6-4 with a 142 finish, 80 finish and an 86 finish.

Searle, however, moved another bit closer to the Euro Tour title by checking out a 93 finish to make it 7-4. The first match darts came in the 12th leg, but Searle missed a full hand. Schindler then hit the double 10 to cut the deficit to 5-7.

Schindler then threw out 65 to close to 6-7. Four more match darts came from Searle in the fourteenth leg, but they too were not taken. Schindler punished these misses by throwing a 100 finish, after which he could start the last leg himself. With a 15-darter 'The Wall' took the title himself in the most dramatic of circumstances.