Mongolia’s Tergel Khurelkhuu produced a sensational finish to the 2025 JDC Advanced Tour season, securing the title and becoming the new world number one after high drama in Coventry. The 14-year-old, who has spent much of the year away from home in pursuit of his darting dream, made history as the first player from Asia to top the JDC’s rankings.
The teenager’s monumental achievement is another huge boost for the development of darts in the Far East, coinciding poetically with a weekend where plenty of Asian players shone on the PDC World Cup of Darts stage.
Heading into the final four events, Khurelkhuu trailed long-time leader Ryan Branley and needed something special to snatch the crown. He delivered just that, winning two events on the final weekend to pip the North-East England starlet by a single point after twenty gruelling rounds of action.
The weekend began with Mitchell Lawrie picking up where he left off. Already a winner on the tour, the young Scot added the first of this bunch to his tally with a dominant 6-1 victory over Mason Teese. It was a blistering display that showed exactly why Lawrie is also regarded as one of the rising stars of junior darts.
Khurelkhuu hit back in the next tournament, overcoming a tough field to seal a vital 6-1 win against 11-year-old Owen Bryceland in the final. It was a crucial result that kept his hopes of overtaking Branley alive, and a brilliant response after his near misses at the previous tour stop.
Lawrie wasn’t done yet, claiming his third title in four events by sweeping past Lex Paeshuyse 6-1 in the penultimate event. It rounded off another superb showing in what has been a breakthrough year for the Scot.
That set up a grandstand finish in the final tournament, with the tour title on the line. Khurelkhuu knew he had to win the event – or lose the final by the narrowest of margins – to overtake Branley. Rising to the occasion, he edged out Teese 6-5 in a dramatic decider to clinch both the event win and the overall championship. It was a fitting end to a remarkable campaign, a reward for his determination, focus and the sacrifices he has made along the way.
The weekend also featured standout performances from Teese, who reached two finals, and Bryceland, who showed composure and talent beyond his years. Both will surely be players to watch in future seasons. But in truth, the days belonged to the superb Khurelkhuu and Lawrie, who took it in turns to claim all four titles between them.
Final Weekend Results
Event 17: Mitchell Lawrie (Sco) 6-1 Mason Teese (Eng)
Event 18: Tergel Khurelkhuu (Mng) 6-1 Owen Bryceland (Sco)
Event 19: Mitchell Lawrie (Sco) 6-1 Lex Paeshuyse (Bel)
Event 20: Tergel Khurelkhuu (Mng) 6-5 Mason Teese (Eng)
——ENDS—–
Images: JDC
