LOCAL professional Ryan Searle is through to the third round of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace.

Seeded 19 and playing his first match in the second round last night, he beat Tomoya Goto 3-1 as he goes in search of the £500,000 first price.

Searle has enjoyed an impressive 2023, winning the Players Championship in February before progressing to the quarterfinals of the World Matchplay with victories over traditional heavyweights Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright.

The Somerset thrower wowed crowds with a nine-dart finish in November's Grand Slam of Darts and is feeling confident of taking his good form into the championship.