Scottish Teen Mitchell Lawrie Breaks Darts Records Ahead of Championship

Fifteen-year-old Mitchell Lawrie has emerged as a rising star in the world of darts, becoming the youngest participant in the history of the WDF World Darts Championship. This event will take place in November 2023, where Lawrie will aim to make his mark at Lakeside, previously held by Luke Littler, who reached the last 16 in 2022.

Lawrie’s remarkable journey began when he recently clinched three senior men’s titles, making him the youngest player to achieve this feat. Just days ago, he won the British Open, Welsh Open, and Irish Classic at the age of 15 years and four days. This achievement allowed him to surpass Littler’s record by over five months, as Littler was 15 years and five months old when he secured his third title.

Upcoming Challenges for Lawrie

As Lawrie prepares to compete for the WDF title, he will face Tomoya Maruyama in the first round. Should he succeed, he will encounter second-seeded Jason Brandon in the subsequent match. Littler, who has been a notable figure in Lawrie’s career, expressed excitement about the young talent’s potential.

“He’s a very, very good player at such a young age like myself,” Littler stated. “So that’s another record he has taken off me, but he’s a very good player.” Littler, who is preparing to defend his PDC world title at the Alexandra Palace, acknowledged that while Lawrie has a long journey ahead, the opportunities in the sport are vast.

Providing advice for the young player, Littler emphasized the importance of focus and patience. “You just have to keep your head down. You still have to keep going,” he said. He recalled his own experience at 14 and 15 years old, noting that Lawrie is likely feeling similar anticipation as he approaches the Development Tour next year.

The Next Generation of Darts

Another young talent to watch is Paige Pauling, who at 17 years old is currently the WDF girls world number one. Pauling is making history as the second player to qualify for both the Girls and Women’s WDF World Championships, a feat first accomplished by Sophie McKinlay last year. If Pauling secures victory, she would become the youngest Women’s World Champion, surpassing the record set by Beau Greaves in 2022.

The upcoming Paddy Power World Darts Championship will be broadcast live from December 11, 2023, to January 3, 2024, on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel. Fans can expect an exciting series of matches as these young competitors showcase their skills on a global stage.