Scottish prodigy Mitchell Lawrie and England’s rising sharpshooter Kaya Baysal are officially on a collision course with destiny. Next month, under the blinding lights of the Alexandra Palace cauldron, the two 15-year-old sensations will walk onto the most famous stage in world darts to battle for the 2026 JDC World Championship.
Both teenagers tore through a field stacked with the finest young tungsten talent on Earth, emerging from today’s showdown in Gibraltar clutching the golden ticket — a chance to showcase their brilliance on 20th December, right in the heart of the PDC World Championship madness.
And here’s the truth: it won’t be long before we see both of them in the main event itself. Luke Littler blazed that trail — JDC champion one minute, World Championship finalist the next. And 12 months later? World Champion. These two look cut from that same rare cloth.
For now, Lawrie (pictured) and Baysal shift their attention briefly to team duty in Gibraltar, but each of them has one eye fixed firmly on the thunderous Ally Pally stage that awaits.
LAWRE’S RAMPAGE: “WEE SOX” SHOWS BIG GAME POWER
Mitchell Lawrie punched his ticket to North London with the composure of a seasoned pro. Only two opponents managed to truly trouble him — England’s Logan Neil-Symonds and Ben Townley, each nicking three legs in a race to five.
Otherwise, it was pure Scottish artillery. At one point, the youngster nicknamed Wee Sox even fired in a 108-plus-VAT average, the kind of number that would turn heads in the senior game, never mind the youth ranks. This is not your average prospect. This is a phenomenon in the making.
BAYSAL’S MARCH: STEADY, DEADLY, UNSTOPPABLE
Kaya Baysal’s route carried less drama but every inch as much authority. His final two matches ended 5-2, including a clinical win over Ryan Branley — who had already lifted silverware earlier in the week.
Now the two boys who spent the day battering each other’s compatriots will unite under the same flag as they chase team glory before resuming their rivalry at Ally Pally.
PAULING DOMINATES GIRLS DIVISION
In the Girls tournament, Paige Pauling once again underlined why she’s considered one of the brightest young stars in women’s darts. Surrounded by modern inspirations like Beau Greaves, Fallon Sherrock, and Lisa Ashton, the English teenager continues to rise with purpose and poise.
Today she added yet another trophy, cruising to a 5-1 victory over fellow English talent Macy Gibbons, another youngster clearly heading for big moments of her own.
NATIONAL PRIDE AWAITS
Lawrie, Baysal, Pauling and Gibbons now switch from individual brilliance to national duty, donning their countries’ colours as they chase collective glory on the world stage. But make no mistake — the countdown to Ally Pally for two of that exciting quartet has already well and truly begun.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Chris Sargeant / WDF
