“We’ve definitely got it in us” - Kaya Baysal tips junior rivalry with Mitchell Lawrie to become future PDC battle

The trophy mattered. The stage mattered. But for Kaya Baysal, the bigger takeaway from his JDC Winmau World Masters victory was what it said about the road ahead.

By defeating close friend and frequent opponent Mitchell Lawrie on a big PDC stage, Baysal did more than become the first name on a brand new trophy. He saw confirmation that a rivalry built in youth competition could yet grow into something much bigger in the professional game. “We’ve definitely got it in us. We’ve just got to keep going how we’re going, and I’m sure we’ll both be up there in no time,” Baysal reflected afterwards.

Earlier in the day, Baysal had spoken about what it meant simply to lift the title in that setting. “That felt amazing, especially to do it on a big PDC stage. It’s nothing short of incredible. I’m really happy with how I played and how the game went.”

The performance itself had been building for days. In the qualifiers in Bradmore, Baysal had already produced high-level displays through the quarter-finals and semi-finals. He arrived on finals day confident that his game was in the right place, but without trying to force anything.

“I think I just did my best to take the performance from yesterday into today, and whatever happened, happened. I knew I wasn’t going to go up there and play badly. I knew I had to play well to beat him, and luckily I did.”

The fact that the final came against Lawrie added an extra edge to the occasion. The two know each other’s games inside out and have faced one another countless times before.

“Yeah, it does mean a lot. Like I said, especially to do it on that stage, it makes it even better. We play each other a lot, we know each other well. So every time we beat each other, it does make it a little bit sweeter than any other win.”

In a short-format final, Baysal understood that a sharp start would be decisive. Averaging close to 90 and finishing clinically on the doubles, he never allowed Lawrie the chance to settle.

“It’s very important, especially against Mitchell in a short format. If you don’t start well, you’re gone. Long story short, you need to play well from the off, the way I did.”

It is also notable how comfortable Baysal now appears on the biggest stages. Recent months on the WDF circuit, including appearances at Lakeside and Ally Pally, have clearly accelerated that adjustment.

“Yeah, to be honest, that stage and Ally Pally kind of feel similar with the boards and the set-up. It feels quite similar.”

Being the first-ever winner of the event was not lost on him either.

“It means a lot to be the first name on that trophy. I just want to win any trophy; it doesn’t matter what it is. As long as I win it, that’s all that matters.”

Looking ahead, Baysal is not rushing into an overloaded schedule. With ranking opportunities on the WDF circuit and the chance to travel, he plans to approach the year calmly.

“I know briefly, especially with the WDF. I’m just going to target the ones where there are ranking points, and also some countries I want to go to. I’ve got a bit of an advantage at the moment, so I’m just going to take it easy and cruise through the year.”

Even after the biggest title of his young career so far, Baysal’s celebrations were modest and grounded.

“I’ve got tickets to go and watch the darts, so I’ll probably be with Mitchell watching that with my family. I’m just going to enjoy myself… and then it’s school in the morning.”

For now, the rivalry remains friendly, the outlook relaxed, and the feet firmly on the ground. But if Baysal’s prediction proves accurate, this final may one day be looked back on as an early chapter in a much longer story on the PDC stage.