A remarkable young talent, Mitchell Lawrie, aged 15, has left Luke Littler in awe with his outstanding performance at the WDF World Championship held at Lakeside. Lawrie set a new record by becoming the youngest player to clinch a victory at Lakeside by defeating Tomoya Maruyama from Japan and then triumphing over Jason Brandon 3-0, showcasing exceptional skills with five maximums and impressive checkouts.
Notably, Lawrie achieved a remarkable 97.21 average, the highest recorded at the tournament to date. Littler expressed his admiration for Lawrie on the WDF Darts Instagram account, stating, “This kid is a joke.”
Lawrie, elated after his win against Brandon, expressed his excitement, stating, “I’m absolutely buzzing with myself, to be honest.” Despite facing a tough opponent in Brandon, Lawrie acknowledged the challenge and highlighted the need to start strong, which he successfully executed.
Lawrie’s exceptional performance in the competition included finishing each leg in the first set within fewer than 15 darts and narrowly missing a potential nine-dart finish before securing a superb 134 checkout. He credited the supportive crowd for boosting his morale and creating a positive atmosphere throughout the match.
Although facing a slight setback as Brandon gained momentum towards the end of the match, Lawrie refocused and sealed his victory with a strong finish. Reflecting on his performance, Lawrie admitted to a brief lapse in concentration during the final set but quickly regained his focus to secure the win.
When asked about any nerves during crucial moments, Lawrie dismissed the notion, attributing a missed opportunity to external distractions from the crowd. Looking ahead, the PDC World Darts Championship is set to commence on December 11, with exclusive live coverage available through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.