Darts professional Ryan Searle has secured a stunning place in the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship, achieving a landmark career moment while managing a significant visual impairment.
A Remarkable Victory Against the Odds
The 38-year-old, nicknamed 'Heavy Metal', triumphed over Jonny Clayton with a 5-2 victory in the quarter-finals at London's Alexandra Palace. This win books Searle's debut in the last four of the prestigious tournament, guaranteeing him a £200,000 prize. His achievement is made extraordinary by the fact he suffers from Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA), a genetic condition that severely limits his long-distance vision.
Searle, who wears contact lenses during matches, explained his sight deteriorates sharply beyond a distance of about six feet. The standard throwing distance in darts, the oche, is 7 feet 9.25 inches. "I wish the dartboard was about 6 feet away," Searle admitted after his match.
Inspiring Others and Raising Awareness
The former window cleaner revealed he was diagnosed around 18 months ago but has struggled with poor vision since childhood. He now hopes his sporting success can inspire others, particularly his nine-year-old daughter, Amelia, who also lives with DOA. "If I can be an inspiration to people that can’t see very well then that means a lot to me," Searle stated.
He is actively using his platform to raise funds and awareness for the condition. Searle has enlisted fellow players for signed shirt raffles and highlighted how coverage from broadcaster Viaplay has already helped raise 15,000 euros for charity. "We’ll try and raise as much money as we can," he said, emphasising the personal motivation his daughter provides.
Adapting His Game to Compete at the Top
Searle has developed unique techniques to compensate for his vision. He explained that because his right eye is weaker, he adjusts his stance on the oche. "I stand a bit further to the right to try and get my left eye sort of more dominant," he said, advice he has passed on to others with similar issues.
He clarified that while contacts reduce blurriness, they do not improve his focusing ability like standard glasses would for typical vision problems. There have been instances, before he wore contacts, where he had to ask the referee what he had scored due to blurred vision.
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 incredible narrative of perseverance, turning a personal challenge into a source of public inspiration.
