Meet Leighton, 13, the next BIG FLING
TAYLOR TIPS WONDERKID TO BE THE YOUNGEST CHAMP
RAVENS will flee the Tower of London before king of darts Phil Taylor hands over his crown to a 13-yearold pretender.
Young princes in the Tower have not always met a happy ending, but with Beefeaters among the invited audience this was a night with the air of changing the guard.
Taylor had to pull out all the stops to beat Leighton Bennett 10-7 in an exhibition worthy of the citadel’s crown jewels.
And the ‘Power’ of London had no hesitation in predicting Bennett will trim years off Eric Bristow’s record as the youngest world champion.
Taylor, 16 times world champion, said: “I like him because he’s a nice kid and the only advice I’d give him is, ‘Stay exactly as you are’.
“If he earns any money, put it in the bank, forget about it and enjoy it when you’re older.
“For his age, he’s probably the best player I’ve ever seen. If anyone is going to challenge Eric’s record [the Crafty Cockney was 22 when he won the first of his five world titles in 1980], it’s this lad.
“When you’ve won a world youth title at 13, it would be easy to think you’ve cracked it, but he puts in the hours on the practice board and does his schoolwork.”
Professional Darts Corporation boss Matt Porter was among the crowd as ‘Boom Boom’ Bennett, who won the Cambridgeshire Open last year aged 12, recovered from 4-1 down to lead Taylor 5-4 at one point.
Taylor believes darts is becoming “a young man’s game” because the old guard are being worn out by the PDC’S relentless schedule.
Raymond van Barneveld is retiring, Gary Anderson pulled out of the Premier League with a bad back and, so far, Peter Wright and James Wade are threatening to win a world title on the Twelfth of Never.
Taylor, 58, said: “They are all shattered. When you are nearly 60 like me, you are knackered all the time. You become miserable and don’t enjoy it any more.
“I loved playing Barney. He’s the worst loser I ever met, but he’s also the best winner.
“I really hope he’s got one last hurrah left in him – but this kid is the future.”
Bennett, from Lincoln, has already won £10,000 in prize money on the junior circuit this year and averaged 104 in one final.
He said: “I try to keep an adult head on a 13-year-old’s shoulders and I treat darts like a job.”
Taylor was impressed. Anyone seen those ravens?