Aileen De Graaf becomes first woman through to Lakeside final with victory over Lisa Ashton

Dutchwoman Aileen de Graaf has become the first lady to make it into the final of the 2023 WDF World Championship at Lakeside, seeing off four-time former winner Lisa Ashton 3-1 in the semi-final.

Although the averages weren't anything to write home about, 77 for de Graaf and 74 for Ashton, this was still a drama packed game. It was de Graaf who started the better, taking the opening set with a brilliant 105 checkout included in that, but Ashton came roaring back in set 2, equalling the match up with a 106 finish.

The key point in the match though, was the deciding leg of set 3. Ashton looked certain to be nudging infront, however a handful of missed darts at double from the Lancashire Rose let de Graff in, and she ruthlessly punished her opponent's profligacy on the outer ring, to take the set. It seemed from there as if the stuffing had been knocked out of Ashton as de Graaf comfortably took a clean sweep of set 4, to book her date with destiny in the World Championship final.

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In the boys, 15-year-old Bradley van der Velden can look back on a good semi-final in the boys' tournament. He was decisive against Mats Theobald. He got into his game easier, stayed calm and was ruthless on his finishes. He grabbed the first set handsomely thanks to a 14-darter in the fifth leg.