Players Championship Darts: Searle Sneeps Soutar

Once again, Heavy Metal Ryan Searle has claimed a Players Championship title in the early stages of the season, overcoming Alan Soutar in Leicester’s opening double-header.

The Devon thrower has developed something of a reputation for being explosively quick out of the blocks, regularly collecting Pro Tour silverware in the relatively embryonic phase of the calendar.

In fact, across his previous three campaigns, the longest it took Searle to secure a title was event four last season – so while this one may have taken marginally longer, it nonetheless arrived with emphatic authority.

This marks career floor title number eight for the recent World Championship semi-finalist, and with his lowest average of the afternoon arriving in the final at 95.65, it offers a telling indication of the consistently high-calibre standard he maintained throughout.

Kicking off proceedings at the Mattioli Arena, Searle brushed aside Thomas Lovely, Darius Labanauskas, and reigning Lakeside champion Jimmy van Schie with relative ease. His most impressive statistical display came in the last 16, where he dispatched Raymond van Barneveld 6-3, registering a commanding and aesthetically pleasing 104.50 average.

Following that, he navigated past talented young prospect Charlie Manby and then the legendary Gary Anderson in the semi-final, setting up a final against another Scot in Soutar – a matchup notable not only for its quality, but also for the rather contrasting hair aesthetics on display.

For Soutar, there is still plenty to admire from an industrious and commendable afternoon’s work. The firefighter’s standout performance – and only ton-plus effort – came in his opening match against Tavis Dudeney. In the quarter-finals, he eased past compatriot Peter Wright, who at that stage appeared to have run out of momentum.

Soots then completed his journey to the final with a nervy, last-leg decider victory over Keane Barry, who had rallied admirably from a sluggish start but ultimately fell just short at the final hurdle.Despite the Scot recording the higher average in the final, it was Searle who emerged victorious.

The Englishman seized the initiative early, storming into a 3-0 lead to establish immediate control. Soutar responded admirably to reduce the deficit to 4-2, but the 38-year-old Devonian then reasserted his dominance, reeling off further legs in clinical fashion. There was only time for a brief consolation before Heavy Metal emphatically sealed the deal.