Searle seals Player Championship 11

Ryan Searle won his third PDC ranking championship in the Players Championship 11 final in Barnsley on Sunday, defeating Nathan Aspinall 8-3.

For the third year in a row, Searle won a PDC ProTour title, ending a sequence of three consecutive defeats in Players Championship deciders with a stunning performance to overcome Aspinall.

He had to settle for second place at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead in November, but he won the £12,000 top prize at this weekend’s treble-header in Barnsley.

In his first four games, Searle was pushed to the limit, defeating Dutch combo Jimmy Hendriks and Jeffrey de Zwaan in a deciding leg and Alan Soutar and Gordon Mathers by a score of 6-4.

He then thrashed Josh Rock in the quarterfinals before having his semi-final match against Rob Cross go the distance, with an 11-darter propelling Searle to the final.

Searle stormed to 3-0 and 5-2 leads, finishing 120 and 103 respectively and landing an 11-dart leg.

In leg eight, Aspinall, pursuing his first ranking crown in two years, took out 124 to reclaim the lead, only for Searle to follow up with the same finish in the next leg to regain breathing room before sealing the victory.

 

“It’s really pleasing and I saved my best game for the final,” said Searle.

“It’s a frustrating game! For the last two days I’ve been playing really well and losing out, and today I started really badly but I got there eventually.

” I scraped through a couple of games but got myself together and played alright after that. I was up for that final – I’ve lost four in a row and there was no way I was losing that today.

” I didn’t care what Nathan was going to hit, I was going to beat him. That was the way I felt and I think that’s the way I need to feel more often.

” It is frustrating but I’m pretty laid back and sometimes I’m not up enough for the final – I’m just happy to be there – and I’m trying to change that.

“I want to stay in the top 16 and get even higher. I feel like if I play my game I can beat anyone.”

 

2022 Players Championship 11

Sunday April 3, Barnsley Metrodome

Last 16

Josh Rock 6-4 Gerwyn Price

Ryan Searle 6-4 Gordon Mathers

Joe Cullen 6-4 James Wade

Rob Cross 6-4 Krzysztof Ratajski

Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Steve Beaton

Dave Chisnall 6-1 Ian White

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Jose de Sousa

Callan Rydz 6-5 Eddie Lovely

Quarter-Finals

Ryan Searle 6-0 Josh Rock

Rob Cross 6-5 Joe Cullen

Dave Chisnall 6-2 Vincent van der Voort

Nathan Aspinall 6-2 Callan Rydz

Semi-Finals

Ryan Searle 7-6 Rob Cross

Nathan Aspinall 7-5 Dave Chisnall

Final

Ryan Searle 8-3 Nathan Aspinall