Ryan Searle was left frustrated by the latest rule change by the PDC (Image: Getty)
star Ryan Searle publicly called out the changes made to the European Tour rules as he questioned the purpose of the PDC Order of Merit. The 37-year-old wasn’t impressed with the news that the top 16 in the world can now sail through to the second round of the Tour, while the top 16 of the Pro Tour will be forced to play in the first round.
Fans have questioned whether the decision to change rules was due to wanting to protect the sport’s bigger names from an early exit. Searle had a similar view as he took to social media to display his frustration. His anger is certainly justified considering he’s narrowly missed out in 19th, as well as being a perennial contender on the European Tour.
Taking to X, ‘Heavy Metal’ wrote: “What is the point of the ProTour Order of Merit? The one that shows the true form and consistency of players. Asking for a friend.” Damon Heta, who benefits from the change as he ranks eighth in the PDC Order of Merit, hilariously responded to Searle’s post.
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The Aussie replied: “Mate I thought it was a New Year New You with no complaining.” To which Searle responded with: “You are already on the face doesn’t fit blacklist so back me up.” The Somerset native referenced Heta’s controversial snubbing from the , with PDC chief executive Matt Porter admitting that the selection was partly due to the commercial value of the players.
Searle – , which causes blurred or distorted vision – has been open about his struggles with the condition that he’s had since childhood. While he uses contact lenses that improves his performance, he previously admitted there’s time during matches where he has to ask where his dart landed.
“It has not been easy,” Searle told in 2023. “I wear contact lenses to play and it’s improved my sight a little bit. I was about [No.] 54 in the world playing without contact lenses, then I went up to about [No.] 15 once I could see a little bit better.
The 37-year-old reached the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship last month (Image: Getty)
“I’m quite a rhythmic player so it helped that I wasn’t having to stop and ask [the referee] every few throws. It has definitely helped my game. It’s still not great and I have to ask every now and again. But that’s what I’ve always known so it’s not like I’ve gone from having good vision to not being able to see.
“That’s how I’ve always seen the board and my eyesight isn’t getting any worse, which is a positive. It was never picked up at school but I knew my eyesight wasn’t very good.
“Before the eye tests, I’d go up to the chart and try and memorise the lower line so I didn’t have to wear glasses. When I was a kid, you’d get the mick taken out of you if you wore glasses. Not now, they’re quite fashionable, aren’t they? So it wasn’t picked up and it needs to be picked up before you’re eight really.”