Darts star hits nine-darter… and referee makes awkward mistake
Ryan Searle’s nine-darter against Joshua Richardson put a spell on the referee. Searle breezed past Richardson 6-3 in the round of 128 at the Players Championship 7. Searle wasted little time in finding form at the Players Championship 7Getty But the high point of the contest came in the very first leg. Searle, the sixth seed, opened with a 180 to put him on course for the nine-darter. He followed that up by pinning treble 20 twice before going downstairs to treble 19 for 177, keeping him on course for the dream finish. With 144 left, Searle hit two more treble 20s and sealed the nine-darter with double 12. So mesmerising was Searle’s blistering start, the referee was caught completely off-guard. As Searle walked up to collect his darts, the referee said: “Game, shot and the match.” Richardson and Searle were left rather baffled by the official’s error as the latter replied: “The match?” The referee replied: “Ah no, not the match. Nearly.” Despite the referee’s hilarious mishap, it did not slow down Searle. The 37-year-old raced out to a 5-2 lead in the first-to-six-legs contest, before Richardson pulled one back in a scintillating 11-dart leg. View Tweet: https://t.co/vQKE8nHWqj @OfficialPDC on XSearle’s nine-darter caught the referee off-guard[/caption] But Richardson could not replicate his brilliance in a ninth leg that was largely devoid of quality from both men. Searle managed to seal the 6-3 victory with a 21-dart leg to book a spot in the round of 64 against Ricky Evans. Unfortunately for Searle, his journey ended there as ‘Rapid’ Ricky prevailed 6-4. Searle wasn’t the only player to hit a nine-darter on Monday at the Players Championship 7. Dirk van Duijvenbode accomplished darting perfection during his 6-2 win over Thomas Lovely in the round of 64. Van Duijvenbode, an aubergine farmer, hit his nine-darter in the fourth leg of the contest. @OfficialPDC on XVan Duijvenbode roared in delight after pinning his first nine-darter in senior darts[/caption] The Dutchman hit two 180s to start off and nailed a checkout of 141. But the 32-year-old didn’t go the conventional route to get there. Instead, Van Duijvenbode went treble 17, treble 18 and double 18 to land his first nine-darter in senior darts. Van Duijvenbode followed up his win over Lovely with a 6-1 thrashing of Steve Lennon in the round of 32. Ireland’s William O’Connor also got in on the nine-darter act during his round of 16 clash against Jimmy van Schie. O’Connor hit the nine-darter in the sixth leg as he prevailed 6-1 over his rival, although his run at the tournament ended in the quarter-finals against Adam Lipscombe.
Ryan Searle’s nine-darter against Joshua Richardson put a spell on the referee.
Searle breezed past Richardson 6-3 in the round of 128 at the Players Championship 7.
But the high point of the contest came in the very first leg.
Searle, the sixth seed, opened with a 180 to put him on course for the nine-darter.
He followed that up by pinning treble 20 twice before going downstairs to treble 19 for 177, keeping him on course for the dream finish.
With 144 left, Searle hit two more treble 20s and sealed the nine-darter with double 12.
So mesmerising was Searle’s blistering start, the referee was caught completely off-guard.
As Searle walked up to collect his darts, the referee said: “Game, shot and the match.”
Richardson and Searle were left rather baffled by the official’s error as the latter replied: “The match?”
The referee replied: “Ah no, not the match. Nearly.”
Despite the referee’s hilarious mishap, it did not slow down Searle.
The 37-year-old raced out to a 5-2 lead in the first-to-six-legs contest, before Richardson pulled one back in a scintillating 11-dart leg.
But Richardson could not replicate his brilliance in a ninth leg that was largely devoid of quality from both men.
Searle managed to seal the 6-3 victory with a 21-dart leg to book a spot in the round of 64 against Ricky Evans.
Unfortunately for Searle, his journey ended there as ‘Rapid’ Ricky prevailed 6-4.
Searle wasn’t the only player to hit a nine-darter on Monday at the Players Championship 7.
Dirk van Duijvenbode accomplished darting perfection during his 6-2 win over Thomas Lovely in the round of 64.
Van Duijvenbode, an aubergine farmer, hit his nine-darter in the fourth leg of the contest.
The Dutchman hit two 180s to start off and nailed a checkout of 141.
But the 32-year-old didn’t go the conventional route to get there.
Instead, Van Duijvenbode went treble 17, treble 18 and double 18 to land his first nine-darter in senior darts.
Van Duijvenbode followed up his win over Lovely with a 6-1 thrashing of Steve Lennon in the round of 32.
Ireland’s William O’Connor also got in on the nine-darter act during his round of 16 clash against Jimmy van Schie.
O’Connor hit the nine-darter in the sixth leg as he prevailed 6-1 over his rival, although his run at the tournament ended in the quarter-finals against Adam Lipscombe.
