RYAN Searle is through to his first semi-final in the World Darts Championship being staged at Alexandra Palace, London.

The local player beat Welshman Jonny Clayton 5-2 in the quarter-finals this afternoon (Thurs).

Despite often being out-scored Searle, who began playing darts in the now disbanded Wellington League, showed better finishing and is now guaranteed £200,000 in prizemoney - the biggest cheque of his career.

Searle led 3-0 at one stage against Clayton, a ‘good friend’ of his, before dropping his first set in the tournament. He had won 17 sets on the bounce before his first hic-cup.

However, Searle kept cool throughout the game and admitted afterwards: “Neither of us played really well. But my finishing under pressure was really good.”

Searle is set to meet the current champion and hot-favourite Luke Littler in the semi-finals, the match to be played around 7.45p.m. tomorrow evening.

Littler is guaranteed to leave Alexandra Palace as the World No 1 regardless of the result against Searle.