"That’s probably not good, you need to find a balance between practice": Late night Call of Duty with Luke Humphries the secret for Ryan Searle

Ryan Searle began his 2026 PDC World Darts Championship campaign with a composed opening-round victory at Alexandra Palace, continuing a remarkable record that has never seen him lose his first match at the tournament.

While the performance was strong under pressure, Searle was quick to downplay it afterwards. “Yeah, it was all right,” he said. “Like I say, it was nothing too special. I think under the biggest pressure I perform my best.”

A pivotal moment arrived in the second set, which went all the way to a deciding leg. Searle admitted he briefly let an opportunity slip before responding in emphatic fashion. “It was 2–2. I had a little bit of a blind moment when I could have won the set and he made it 2–2. To hit an 11-dart leg to win the second set was massive, because if he wins that set and makes it 1–1, he sort of gets the momentum back with him. So yeah, to win the set like I did was really good.”

The victory extended Searle’s unbeaten run in opening matches at Alexandra Palace, something he had reflected on even before arriving at the venue. “I was thinking about it on the way here,” he explained. “I’ve had some half-decent draws and some not-so-decent draws. I was saying to my son about winning and the prize money that comes with winning your first game, and trying not to jinx myself basically. I’ve kind of always found a way to win my first game, which is good.”

Searle has reached the last 16 of the World Championship on three previous occasions, and while he insists on focusing on the next match, he is open about his longer-term ambitions. “You can’t look past the opponent you’re playing next,” he said, “but it’s no secret that I want to try and make the quarter-finals at least and see where we go from there.”

Reflecting on his inability so far to break beyond the last 16 at Ally Pally, Searle pointed to fine margins and tough draws rather than poor performances. “Last year I felt like I was playing really well and I ran into Ryan Joyce,” he said. “I averaged 101.5 and hit 50% of my doubles — and I lost. There were plenty of people who played a lot worse than that and got further than me. That’s part of the luck of the draw. Ryan Joyce was the only one last year who got close to Luke Littler, which proves how well he was playing.”

Despite those frustrations, Searle believes his laid-back personality helps him cope. “It’s one of those things you’ve got to take on the chin and move forward. I need to try and care a bit more — that’s just my personality. I don’t really care too much, but I always try my hardest when I get on stage.”

That relaxed demeanour was evident in the build-up to his opener, and Searle admitted this may be the calmest he has felt arriving at the sport’s biggest event. “Yeah, probably,” he said. “I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I feel the butterflies when I’m driving up the hill here, and it’s probably one of the only tournaments where I feel that. You play so much on the big stage at the European Tours that you kind of become numb to it, but this is the one you want to win.”

There were still moments of tension during the match, including a missed opportunity on a 95 checkout. “No, I thought it was a single,” Searle said. “That’s why I threw the next dart miles off the board. He won that leg, and if he goes on and breaks me in the next and makes it 1–1, it’s a completely different game. I think I did well to compose myself after that and have a good leg to win the set.”

Away from the oche, Searle’s motivation is firmly rooted in family life rather than silverware alone. “My main motivation is providing a good life for my family,” he explained. “With the PDC now, you don’t have to be Luke Humphries or Luke Littler to make good money and live comfortably. That’s basically my main goal.”

Preparation for the World Championship has been far from intense, with Searle admitting practice time has been limited. “To be honest, not a lot,” he said. “I wanted to pencil in some practice with Gary, but we’ve both had exhibitions. Luke Humphries and I have been playing Call of Duty pretty much every night. That’s probably not good. You need to find a balance between practice and chilling out, and that’s what I enjoy.”

His decision to target a quarter-final run is based on personal milestones rather than setting unrealistic expectations. “Because I’ve never made one before,” he said. “I’ve made the last 16 a couple of times and fallen in the last 32 a few times in some pretty dodgy games. If I can make the last eight, that would be a big step for me.”

Searle also acknowledged that his sometimes indifferent attitude is something he may need to address. “I don’t know if I’m happy about it,” he admitted. “I know how well I can play, and sometimes on the floor I show that. I don’t show it as much on the big stage as I feel I can. That’s something I need to work on.”

That outlook, he believes, is shaped by his background before darts became his profession. “I was putting my Christmas lights up on the gutter a couple of days ago and thinking how glad I am that my hands are cold on a ladder, because I don’t miss that at all,” he said. “Mentally, it’s something I need to work on, but if I play my game at 100%, I’m a match for anyone.”

For now, the focus remains firmly on this World Championship. “That’s the plan for this tournament,” Searle said. “I’m trying to kick myself up the backside a bit, be more committed, and perform the way I know I can.”

He also felt the matchup itself suited him, praising opponent Chris Landman’s tempo. “He plays fast, I don’t like to hang around,” Searle said. “We both throw and retrieve our darts at a good pace. That’s how I think darts should be played. Whether I’m playing well or badly, that never changes.”

Looking back over the season as a whole, Searle described it as “another solid year”, highlighted by two ProTour titles. However, he acknowledged the challenge of making deep runs at major events. “I ran into Luke Littler first round at the Matchplay and he averaged 109,” he said. “I played Gian van Veen at the European Championship Finals and he averaged 110. Then Gerwyn Price at the Grand Prix — he was fantastic. That’s hard to beat. I’m good on the floor, but I need to work out how to win more games at majors.”

With a short break before his next match, Searle plans a low-key approach. “My partner’s driving me home tonight — hopefully she doesn’t crash my car into some mopeds,” he joked. “I’ll finish the Christmas shopping and hopefully get a bit of practice in. It’s more about confidence than practice, and with the new darts I’m feeling pretty good.”