Mikuru Suzuki set to make popular return to Lakeside after qualifying for WDF World Championships
WDFMonday, 06 October 2025 at 19:30
Two-time WDF Lakeside World Champion Mikuru Suzuki has qualified for her fourth appearance at the WDF World Championships after a convincing display in the Korea Open saw her storm to the title, defeating Kirsi Viinikainen 5-3 in the final.
The Korea Open is classed as a gold event, meaning becoming the champion will see yourself book a ticket to the World Championships. This is what Suzuki did, backing up her previous success in 2018. Going into the event as the 29th ranked player, she defeated Zuljargal Gantumur (3-0), Pei Ling Liao (3-1), number four seed Joanne Hadley (4-3), Emine Dursun (4-1), Ami Komiyama (4-1), and the number one seed Deta Hedman (4-0) to book her place in the final.
She would face Finnish star Viinikainen for the title. Viinikainen took the early lead, before Suzuki won four legs on the spin to charge into a 4-1 lead. This proved too much for the number six seed, who despite winning consecutive legs was eventually defeated with a 15-darter for the championship. More importantly, it confirms her return to Lakeside, a place where she has enjoyed so much success.
Suzuki history at Lakeside
Previously won by Leighton Reis, Eric Bristow, Jockey Wilson, Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, and Stephen Bunting among others, the WDF World Championships has had a decorated past, overlooking some of the greatest players to throw a dart. That is the same over on the women's side, with Suzuki making a name for herself there.
The Japanese star won on debut in 2019, averaging over 90 in the final to defeat Loraine Winstanley 3-0. She backed that success up the following year by taking down four-time champion Lisa Ashton in a whitewash victory. The event was not held in 2021, but she could not clinch a third title in 2022, losing in the second round to fourth seed Aileen de Graaf. After a couple of years away from the event, Baby Shark will be belted around Lakeside again as the 43-year-old takes to the stage, eyeing up a trio of triumphs.
