WDF World Championship Lakeside Round-Up | 15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie blasts his way into the final in scintillating fashion as Hedman eyes up Lakeside success

15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie continues to make more history at Lakeside after defeating 19-year-old Jenson Walker 5-2 to reach the final of the men's WDF World Championship.

The semi-final had an average age of 17, showing the immense talent is coming through the sport. Lawrie was the first to get a leg on the board but was instantly blown away by his opponent who ticked off three consecutive legs as he took the early advantage. It would to be premature as Lawrie found a way back into it. He went 2-0 up before a 104 checkout put Walker in his way to tie the set up. Despite him throwing it out, Lawrie proved too good, taking out 100 to bring it back to square one.

The Scot would have no issue in wrapping up the third set. Apart from a 164 missed on the bull, Walker was unable to have a sniff. The fourth set then went on throw, leading to a final leg showdown. After Lawrie missed the bull, Walker has the chance to level up but squandered his opportunity. Keeping his composure remarkably well, Lawrie pinned double six with his final dart to open up a solid lead.

Once more Walker broke the Scot's throw to propel himself in front, and even though he was broken managed back managed to salvage the throw off Lawrie ahead of a satisfying 82 checkout to close the gap in sets to one. It looked like it was destined for a level game after Walker sprant into a 2-0 lead, but Lawrie went up the gears. He took out 104 and 112 as he regained a two-set lead. He then made a triumphant run to the finishing line, closing out the match with a 125 outshot. He becomes the youngest WDF World Championship finalist days after becoming the youngest to win a match at the iconic venue. It will be either number one seed Jimmy van Schie or Sybren Gijbels he will lock horns with in tomorrow's final.

Deta Hedman has reached her first World Championship final since 2012 after defeating Priscilla Steenbergen 3-1. The Dutchwomen took the early advantage, having the chance to go 2-0 ahead but missed doubles were pounced upon hy Hedman who levelled. However, she could do nothing about Steenbergen taking out 92 to break and clinch the first set.

This would be the only set that she won, with Hedman taking firm authority. She would lose just one leg in the remaining three sets played. She managed to sneak a break in before wrapping up set two to level procedures. Her scoring power allowed her to run away with the third set with ease, with her opponent floundering. Steenbergen had to turn this match around in the fourth set. On her throw it was tight between them, but Hedman got the better of her both times to secure the match and send her through to a fourth Lakeside final. The ‘Caribbean Queen’ has won almost everything in the sport, but this elusive title is the one remaining out of her grasp. Tomorrow, she has another chance to crown herself as world champion.

Ahead of these two ties, some of the semi-finals in the youth categories were viciously competed. In the boys event German Florian Preis produced a dogged comeback against Mason Teese to win 3-2 and book his spot in the final. The Englishman came out of the blocks much faster, pinning a 15-darter enroute to taking the first set. Preis managed to nick a break at the start of the second set and went on to keep his cool and level the score. Despite following it up with a 12 and 13 darter in the third leg, he was unable to take the lead for the first time in the match as Teese managed to keep in front and regain authority in the match. Nevertheless, Preis was the better player throughout and was going to finally get what he deserved for it. He won the next six legs without answer to commandingly dispose of Teese and set himself up with a possible final matchup against Lawrie.

The final two sets in that contest was similar to how the girls semi-final between Rebecca Allen and Ruby Gray played out. Allen dropped just one leg on the way to a 2-0 trouncing. Aside from the first leg, all the legs the Irish woman won came under a lot of pressure from her opponent, who in turn was unable to take her limited chances to make a more competitive clash. She will play the winner of Paige Pauling and Zehra Gemi in this evening’s second semi-final.