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It was a lively afternoon by the lake, with four world champions born, at least one of which was steeped in the sheer romance of darts, as the sporting gods finally gave the entire darts world the long-awaited finale. After decades of near misses, heartbreak, and sometimes carrying women’s darts like a giant, Detta Hedman has finally captured the crown that has always felt like her destiny – the world championship.
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Her 4-1 victory over top-seeded Lerena Rietbergen not only looked inevitable… but felt divine. The 66-year-old Caribbean queen showed the coolness and ruthlessness of players half her age, turning the lakeside stage into a coronation rather than a match.
Delta Heidemann
Chris Sargent/WDF
For a generation of fans, the question was never if Detta would one day win, but when. Now that the wait is over, a resume that was already a standout in the sport finally has its missing gem.
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If anyone at Buckingham Palace is paying attention, they might want to warm up the medals. Deta Hedman, OBE – World Champion. And ladies? At this point, it’s just paperwork.
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Such an exciting moment: Deta Hedman gets emotional after Lakeside win
Meanwhile, the British Open final took a dramatic turn that even the Lakeside walls took some time to digest. After trailing three sets, top seed Jimmy van Schie staged a powerful comeback to crush the dream of Scottish teenage genius Mitchell Lawrie and win the 2025 World Open Championship. For a glorious half-hour, it looked like Lakeside might see its oldest and youngest champions crowned on the same night.
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At just 15 years old, Lawrie burst onto the scene, taking a 3-0 lead and threatening to rewrite the record with a permanent marker. Then Dutch woke up. With the cold steel of an experienced athlete, Fanshey turned the match on its head for six straight sets and dashed the Scot’s hopes with wave after wave of points and composure. Little Red Sox heartbreak. Cheers to Holland. Its comeback would echo in lakeside folklore for years to come.
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Earlier in the afternoon, Lawrie secured at least one world title, fearlessly claiming the Junior Open title again with a 4-2 victory over Germany’s Florian Press. The Scot took a two-set lead in the match, surviving a strong comeback from Price and eventually defeating his opponent in a teenage cannon battle.
It wasn’t the trophy he really wanted, nor the double he dreamed of, but at 15 years old, time was very much on his side. You don’t watch Mitchell Lawrie and wonder if he’s going to be a world champion. How long do you think about it.
The day also belonged to Turkey, where Zehra Gemi sent shockwaves with a clinical 3-0 victory over Ireland’s Rebecca Allen in the women’s world final. Her comeback against defending champion Paige Bowling in the semi-finals had already attracted attention, but the final was a complete statement. Cold shots, heavy scoring, and the swagger of a player who clearly didn’t realize Turkish darts shouldn’t be on the world map. That’s it now. Jamie leaves England as world champion. She will return to Türkiye as a pioneer.
WDF World Championship final results
Junior Open Final – Mitchell Lowry 4-2 Florian Press
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Women’s Final – Rebecca Allen 0-3 Zella Jamie
Women’s Final – Lerena Rietbergen 1-4 Deta Hedman
Open Final – Jimmy Fancy 6-3 Mitchell Lowry
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