LOCAL darts star Ryan Searle hit a sensational nine-darter against Joshua Richardson in the opening leg of their Players Championship 7 match in Germany.

He went on to record a 6-3 win but quickly came down to earth with a bump, losing to Ricky Evans in the last 32.

Searle, the sixth seed, opened with a 180 against Richardson to put him on course for a nine-darter.

He followed this with a treble 20 twice before going downstairs to treble 19 for 177, keeping him on course for the dream finish.

With 144 left Searle, who began playing darts in the local Wellington League, hit two more treble 20s and sealed the nine-darter with double 12.