"World champion at 66 – I didn't realise it would be so emotional": Deta Hedman finally fulfils her darting destiny at Lakeside

Deta Hedman’s extraordinary career finally reached its long-awaited crescendo on Sunday afternoon as the “Caribbean Queen” became world champion at the age of 66, defeating top seed Lerena Rietbergen 4–1 to claim the 2025 WDF World Championship title.

After more than fifty years in the sport, three previous final defeats and a reputation as the greatest female player never to win the world crown, Hedman’s reaction told the story of a lifetime of pressure, expectation and near-misses collapsing into one overwhelming moment.

“Absolutely fantastic,” she said in her post-match interview afterwards, fighting back tears. “World champion finally at the tender age of 66… I didn’t realise it was going to be such an emotional moment.”

Rietbergen flew out of the blocks, taking the opening set 3–1 and threatening to turn the final into a battle of power scoring. But Hedman steadied herself, levelled the match in set two, and then produced one of the defining shots of her career — a 112 checkout with Rietbergen waiting on tops — to seal the third set and seize control.

“Oh God yes, it felt big,” Hedman said. “When I’m going for the doubles I can hear two or three people going ‘go on then’, and you’re just trying to focus on the board. When it went in, I’m thinking: thank God for that.”

From there, Hedman grew with every visit. She pushed into a 3–1 lead, held firm on her own throw, and then broke straight back with a 180 and a cool double 20 when Rietbergen tried to launch a comeback. The title dart followed soon after.

As it landed, years of restraint vanished in an instant. “I said to Lorena, ‘Stay with me — don’t go,’ because I was just bawling into her shoulder thinking, ‘Oh God, you big baby,’” she admitted. “I didn’t realise it would be so emotional.”

Hedman’s achievements stretch across decades and continents, from World Masters wins to dominating tours at home and abroad. But Lakeside had been the single missing chapter.

She had been here before — painfully close, painfully often. And this year, she believed the draw left little room for error. She beat Mikuru Suzuki, Sophie McKinlay and Priscilla Steenbergen just to reach Rietbergen. Every one of them had the tools to end her run early.

But Hedman refused to let it slip again. “Neither of us played as well as we could because we were both as nervous as each other,” she said. “As I’ve said over the years — will I ever, won’t I ever get that title? I’m trying to win it, she’s trying to win it, and it was just whoever hit the double first.”

Hedman was keen to acknowledge the people who have carried her through the grind of elite darts while she balanced competition with full-time employment.

“My other half isn’t here because he hurt his back, but he’ll be happy — I hope he doesn’t hurt it any more jumping about,” she joked. “A lot of people say, ‘you’re a pro’, but I say no, I’m a semi-pro because I have a full-time job.”

Now, world champion at last, she hinted that life might finally slow down. “Now I’ve got the title, I’ll probably decide to take it a little bit easier,” she said. “I’m looking at not working so many hours — just for my peace of mind and my health as well.”

Back to work Monday? “Yes,” she laughed. “But from the new year, I’ll be going down to three days a week.”

On the same weekend that 15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie became the youngest finalist in WDF history, Hedman became its oldest world champion. Two generational extremes, one historic stage — and a reminder that few careers in darts have ever carried the longevity, resilience and sheer excellence of Deta Hedman.

She has won almost everything the sport has to offer. And now, finally, the one that mattered most.

World champion at 66. Darting destiny fulfilled.