“He’s been the reason I want to play darts” - 15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie reveals Gary Anderson inspiration behind PDC dream

Mitchell Lawrie’s rise has already moved well beyond quiet promise. At just 15, the Scottish teenager has become one of the most talked-about young players outside the PDC system, with his Lakeside breakthrough and growing reputation placing him firmly among the sport’s most intriguing prospects.

Now, Lawrie is already looking towards the next steps: a potential PDC Winmau World Masters invite, more success at Lakeside, and eventually a PDC Tour Card.

But behind that ambition sits one of Scottish darts’ most recognisable figures. Speaking on the Love the Darts Podcast, Lawrie made clear that Gary Anderson was not just a player he admired growing up. He was the reason darts became the sport he wanted to pursue.

For Lawrie, Anderson’s appeal was never only about the titles. The two-time world champion’s rhythm, style and easy scoring made a lasting impression on the young Scot long before he began making his own name on major stages. “I’ve always said Gary Anderson’s been my biggest idol,” Lawrie told the Love the Darts Podcast. “Just seeing him play, I just think he’s got the most natural throw in the world. He’s obviously Scottish. He’s won two world titles. And so, I just really look to re-emphasise his career. He’s been the reason I want to play darts, watching him on the telly.”

That line gives Lawrie’s story a clear Scottish thread, but it also speaks to the scale of the target in front of him. Anderson became one of the defining players of his generation, while Lawrie is still at the very start of his own route towards the professional game.

The teenager says watching Anderson brought a different level of attachment compared to other players on television. “It’s when you watch the darts, you know, obviously you would maybe want some other person to win. When I watched Gary Anderson, all I wanted was him to win.”

Lawrie has since had the chance to meet Anderson away from the television cameras, giving that childhood admiration a more personal edge. Lawrie recalled meeting Anderson at an exhibition, as well as crossing paths with Tai Anderson, Gary’s son, who is also involved in the sport.

“I met him in an exhibition once, and I’ve also met his son Tai, who’s also a really good player,” Lawrie explained. “And we were talking away to Tai and his wife, and yeah, they’ve been brilliant with me. Gary was great at the exhibition. He was just good, laughing. He just felt like a normal person to be around, instead of this big Gary Anderson person. He just felt normal, which kind of brings you back to reality, and it felt really nice.”

For Lawrie, that meeting added another layer to the inspiration. Anderson was not only the player he wanted to win as a young fan, but someone who left an impression away from the oche too.

That matters because Lawrie’s own spotlight is beginning to grow quickly. His Lakeside run marked him out as more than just a junior name with potential, while his next targets show a player already thinking seriously about how to move towards the professional circuit.

Lawrie is currently in a strong position on the Advanced Tour, where a top-four finish would earn him a PDC World Masters invite. For a player of his age, that would represent a significant early step into a more professional environment.

“Well, I know if I come in top four in the Advanced Tour, I’m getting a PDC World Masters invite, and I’m currently sitting first in that,” he added. So that would be another thing on the hit list. Go there in January and hopefully do well in that. Get on to the stage. That would be my first professional tournament.”

Lawrie is also aiming high at Lakeside, with ambitions across both the men’s and youth competitions before his longer-term focus turns fully towards the PDC. “Win the Lakeside men’s and retain my title in the youths,” he said. “Get my Tour Card, hopefully do well on the ProTour and stuff, and we’ll see where it takes me.”

At 15, Lawrie is still at the beginning of the road. The comparisons, expectations and wider attention will only increase if his form continues. But the ambition is already clearly defined.

Inspired by Anderson, tested at Lakeside and now chasing a route into the PDC environment, Lawrie is quickly becoming one of the young names darts fans will be watching most closely.