Darts professional Ryan Searle has secured a stunning place in the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship, achieving this sporting milestone while managing a significant genetic vision impairment.
A Remarkable Victory Against the Odds
The player nicknamed 'Heavy Metal' triumphed over Jonny Clayton with a 5-2 victory in their quarter-final clash at London's Alexandra Palace. This win books the 38-year-old's debut in the tournament's last four, guaranteeing him a career-best payday of £200,000. However, the context of his achievement is what makes it truly extraordinary.
Searle revealed after his match that he suffers from Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA), a hereditary condition that severely limits his eyesight. His vision deteriorates sharply beyond a distance of approximately six feet. The standard throwing distance in darts, the oche, is set at 7 feet 9.25 inches, meaning Searle is effectively playing while unable to see the board clearly.
Inspiring Others and Raising Awareness
The Somerset thrower, a former window cleaner, received his formal diagnosis around 18 months ago but has struggled with poor vision since childhood. He now hopes his success on the world stage can inspire others, particularly his nine-year-old daughter Amelia, who also lives with DOA.
"When you can’t see very well you just kind of find ways to get through life," Searle explained. "If I can be an inspiration to people that can’t see very well then that means a lot to me... especially with my daughter suffering like she does with it."
He is actively using his platform to raise funds and awareness for the condition. Collaborations, including with broadcaster Viaplay, have already helped generate around 15,000 euros for charity. Searle is also collecting signed shirts from fellow players to raffle off for further fundraising.
Adapting His Game to Compete at the Top
To compete at the elite level, Searle has developed unique adaptations. He wears contact lenses during matches, which he says reduce some blurriness but do not improve his long-range vision. During practice, he uses glasses. Before using contacts, his vision was so blurred he would occasionally have to ask the referee what score he had hit.
He has also adjusted his stance on the oche. "Because it’s my right eye that isn’t as good as the left, so I kind of combat that by standing a bit further to the right to try and get my left eye sort of more dominant," he shared, noting he has passed this advice on to others with similar challenges.
Searle now awaits the winner of the match between defending champion Luke Littler and Krzysztof Ratajski in the semi-finals. A potential run to the title and the £1 million top prize would cap an unbelievable narrative of perseverance, turning a personal challenge into a source of public inspiration.
