Sporting Life
Ryan Searle
Ryan Searle

Darts results: Ryan Searle gains revenge on red-hot practice partner Gary Anderson to win the Players Championship 3 title

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Tue February 20, 2024 · 10M ago

Ryan Searle overcame a relentless Gary Anderson with a stunning performance of his own to gain revenge over his practice partner in the Players Championship 3 final.

Heavy Metal lost to Luke Littler (7-8) and Anderson (5-8) in the opening two Pro Tour finals of the season in Wigan last week and remarkably made it three in a row thanks to victories over the likes of Michael van Gerwen (7-4), Danny Noppert (6-4) and Damon Heta (6-3).

Searle still started out as underdog against the Flying Scotsman, who had maintained his blistering start to the campaign with averages of well over 100 in five of his previous six matches including efforts of 112 verses Jeffrey de Graaf (6-3) in round one and 111.71 against Callan Rydz (7-4) in the semi-finals, but he turned on the style and stormed into a 3-0 lead.

Anderson hit back with a 164 checkout but Searle refused to be rattled and kept his nose in front during the mid-part of the match to open up a 6-3 advantage.

The two-time world champion clawed his way back and eventually forced a deciding leg only for Searle to hold his nerve and clinch the title.

“I wasn’t at my best today, but when it came to the final, I feel like I played pretty well,” reflected Searle, who averaged 107.63 to prevail in a thrilling title decider.

“I believe that Gary is probably the best player in the world, and I’ve said that for a long time. When you’re practising against him he’s banging in 180 after 180 and taking out massive finishes.

“Me and Gary have only practiced twice together this year. He is playing phenomenal darts at the moment, so I’m happy to be able to get one over on him for once!"

He added: “To make three finals in a row and win one of them is a big achievement, because these events are not easy.

“I don’t set myself targets. I just turn up and play and whatever happens, happens.

"I wish I had Luke Humphries’ focus, where he wanted to be in the Premier League, he wanted to be world number one. I think that would probably help me, but it’s just not me!”

Searle began his campaign with wins over Patrick Geeraets and Owen Bates, and he continued his serene progress by dumping out Australia’s World Cup pairing of Simon Whitlock and Heta.

The 36-year-old then saw off Noppert in the quarter-finals – aided by a 164 finish in the penultimate leg – before winning five straight legs from 4-2 down to topple MVG in the semi-finals.

2024 Players Championship Three Results

Last 16 onwards

Last 16

  • Peter Wright 6-1 Leighton Bennett
  • Gary Anderson 6-0 Jeffrey Sparidaans
  • Luke Littler 6-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode
  • Callan Rydz 6-5 Daryl Gurney
  • Steve Lennon 6-4 Ritchie Edhouse
  • Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Michael Smith
  • Ryan Searle 6-3 Damon Heta
  • Danny Noppert 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld

Quarter-Finals

  • Gary Anderson 6-2 Peter Wright
  • Callan Rydz 6-4 Luke Littler
  • Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Steve Lennon
  • Ryan Searle 6-4 Danny Noppert

Semi-Finals

  • Gary Anderson 7-4 Callan Rydz
  • Ryan Searle 7-4 Michael van Gerwen

Final

  • Ryan Searle 8-7 Gary Anderson

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