Ryan Searle takes Players Championship 7 title in style “To prove that I can win something on the big stage would be good.”
Ryan Searle takes Players Championship 7 title in style “To prove that I can win something on the big stage would be good.”
Ryan Searle stormed to his eighth PDC ranking title with a commanding 8-3 victory over Alan Soutar at Players Championship Seven in Leicester.
Searle delivered a dominant performance in Monday’s showpiece at the Mattioli Arena, averaging 95.65 and firing in four maximums to secure the £15,000 top prize.
The 38-year-old produced a superb campaign throughout the day, registering a tournament average of 100.13 to claim his first title of the 2026 season and extend his remarkable run of winning a Players Championship event in seven consecutive years.
“I played really solid today,” reflected Searle post-match.
“Averages-wise my best was against Raymond [van Barneveld], but feeling-wise it felt like the worst, which was a little bit odd.
“February and March time is normally my time of year when I win things, and if I can win one or two more to break new ground this year, I will do that.”
Searle also spoke about his growing profile and ambitions away from the oche.
“I’ve had a bit more attention this year so far,” he continued, referencing his run to the 2025/26 World Championship semi-finals.
“It’s been really good. I’ve been able to raise awareness for the Cure ADOA Foundation, but motivation-wise, I haven’t been practising.
“I would like to win a European Tour — that would be the next goal for me. To prove that I can win something on the big stage would be good.”
Searle began his campaign in emphatic fashion, averaging 101.50 in a 6-2 victory over Thomas Lovely before dispatching Darius Labanauskas 6-1 with another ton-plus average.
The Devon thrower continued his impressive form by defeating Dutch duo Jimmy van Schie and Raymond van Barneveld, producing his performance of the day against the five-time World Champion with a 104.50 average.
He then overcame rising star Charlie Manby 6-3 in the quarter-finals, before producing a clinical display to defeat Gary Anderson 7-3 and book his place in the final.
Searle made a blistering start to the showpiece, reeling off legs in 15, 14 and 13 darts to establish a commanding 3-0 lead.
Soutar responded with a brief rally, winning two of the next three legs to reduce the deficit, but Searle quickly reasserted control. A trio of legs — including a 13-darter — moved him to the brink of victory at 7-3.
Although Soutar added one more leg, Searle wrapped up the title in 17 darts to complete a comprehensive triumph.
The victory lifts Searle to fourth on the 2026 Players Championship Order of Merit, while Soutar’s impressive run sees him climb to seventh.
Soutar enjoyed an excellent campaign en route to the final, opening with a 105.03 average in a 6-2 win over Tavis Dudeney before surviving back-to-back last-leg deciders against Jim Long and Derek Coulson.
The Scot then defeated Alexander Merkx 6-3 and produced a standout display to dispatch Peter Wright 6-1 in an all-Scottish clash.
He was also pushed to the limit in the semi-finals, edging out Keane Barry in a deciding leg to book his place in the final.
Barry had earlier produced the performance of the tournament, averaging 109.43 in his opening-round victory over Krzysztof Ratajski.
The 23-year-old went on to defeat Michael Smith, Sebastian Bialecki and Stephen Bunting to reach the last four, before bowing out in a closely fought contest.
Elsewhere, Anderson’s run to the semi-finals included victories over James Hurrell and Players Championship Six winner Chris Dobey, although the two-time World Champion is still searching for his first ranking title since March 2025.
Michael van Gerwen and Bunting were among the Premier League stars in action, but both exited in the fourth round. Van Gerwen, despite averaging over 104 earlier in the day, was defeated 6-3 by Jeffrey Sparidaans, while Bunting fell by the same scoreline to Barry.
The Leicester double-header concludes with Players Championship Eight on Tuesday, as another 128-player field competes for the £15,000 top prize.
Ryan Searle takes Players Championship 7 title in style
2026 Players Championship Seven
Monday March 30
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Last 16
Ryan Searle 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Charlie Manby 6-5 Jermaine Wattimena
Gary Anderson 6-3 James Hurrell
Chris Dobey 6-4 Cristo Reyes
Keane Barry 6-4 Stephen Bunting
Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-3 Michael van Gerwen
Peter Wright 6-3 Maik Kuivenhoven
Alan Soutar 6-3 Alexander Merkx
Quarter-Finals
Ryan Searle 6-3 Charlie Manby
Gary Anderson 6-2 Chris Dobey
Keane Barry 6-3 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Alan Soutar 6-1 Peter Wright
Semi-Finals
Ryan Searle 7-3 Gary Anderson
Alan Soutar 7-6 Keane Barry
Final
Ryan Searle 8-3 Alan Soutar
