Daily Mirror

Double six to win..

12-year-old beats PDC darts pro on way to championsh­ip victory

- BY LOUIE SMITH and JOSH GREEN louie.smith@mirror.co.uk VOICE OF THE MIRROR: PAGE8

A SCHOOLBOY aged only 12 has beaten a host of profession­al darts players to win his first open championsh­ip.

Leighton Bennett saw off PDC pro “Rapid” Ricky Evans in the semi-finals. The youngster then whitewashe­d BDO star Rhys Hayden, almost twice his age at 23, 5-0 in the final.

Leighton, who received £1,000 prize money, is determined to emulate his hero Phil “The Power” Taylor by one day competing in the World Championsh­ips.

He said: “I want to follow in Phil’s footsteps – he’s done so much in the game and made history. I’d love to play on the Alexandra Palace stage one day – hopefully winning matches.

“It’s amazing to be the Cambridges­hire Open champion, I was shocked that I beat Ricky.”

Leighton, from Lincoln, overcame a field of experience­d profession­als to claim the title on Sunday. His toughest match was against former World Championsh­ip competitor Evans, 28.

Evans, of Kettering, Northants, is famed for being one of the fastest throwers in the game.

He paid tribute to Leighton describing him as “amazing” before adding: “Remember the name everybody.”

Mum Emma, 43, said Leighton took up the sport after being inspired by his darts-mad dad Scott. She said: “His dad sill plays darts, but Leighton is far better than him now.”

Leighton will play in the Winmau World Masters in October.

I’d love to one day play on the Alexandra Palace stage – hopefully winning matches LEIGHTON BENNETT ON HIS HOPES FOR DARTS SUCCESS

 ??  ?? BEATEN Ricky Evans was quick to praise Leighton AIMING HIGH Leighton Bennett in action STARS With former World Champ Bob Anderson
BEATEN Ricky Evans was quick to praise Leighton AIMING HIGH Leighton Bennett in action STARS With former World Champ Bob Anderson

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