18-year-old Leighton Bennett came through the field on Day 3 at UK Q-School to earn himself a place on the PDC Pro Tour for the first time in his career.
"I'm over the moon! I can't believe it to be honest," Bennett laughed in his post-match interview with Dan Dawson for the PDC. "After the last 16 game I dropped to my knees and starting crying because I thought 7 points would get me through. Then I won again and thought, 'I've guaranteed it now.' So in the final, something clicked in my head. I wanted to win properly."
Although still only 18, Bennett's name has been on the lips of darts fans in the know for some time now, hearkening back to the days when a 13-year-old Bennett beat Phil Taylor at an exhibition and when he became the youngest player ever in a senior World Championship when he competed at Lakeside in 2020.
"To be honest, I came here to get on the Challenge Tour," Bennett says. "I actually can't believe it. I never thought I'd be good enough to get through. I rang my dad and we both started crying because it's actually happening. It's unbelievable."
Day Three ✅
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 13, 2024
Dan Dawson recaps the action from the penultimate day of Final Stage action at PDC Qualifying Schools!
We also hear from Andy Baetens and Leighton Bennett - the latest duo to secure their Tour Cards! pic.twitter.com/hK5FPB3Hjk