‘I’ll never be him’ – 15-year-old darts sensation addresses Luke Littler comparisons

Darts starlet Mitchell Lawrie has played down comparisons between him and teen sensation Luke Littler.

The 15-year-old Scot made history on Sunday when he became the youngest player to ever win a match at the WDF World Championships.

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His 3-0 victory over Japan’s Tomoya Maruyama at Lakeside included two superb 145 checkouts.

The feat showed a level of composure in the same mould of 18-year-old Littler who burst onto the scene with his run to the World Championship final in 2024.

And the bookies are already expecting a mammoth run to glory at Lakeside, with Lawrie installed as favourite to lift the WDF World Championship.

But first he must find a way past American Jason Brandon on Tuesday evening to book his spot in the last 16.

Lawrie’s heroics have quickly earned comparisons to Littler who finished as runner-up at the World Championships at the age of just 16.

That has deepened further after breaking Littler’s youth records of becoming the youngest player to win the British Open, Welsh Open and Irish Classic.

Following suit?

Lawrie has received much attention since Sunday’s first-round triumph and was asked about the connections with Littler.

“I’ll never be him. I’ll always be Mitchell Lawrie at the end of the day,” the 15-year-old told Tungsten Tales darts.

“What he’s (Littler) done is unbelievable. He’s made this sport what it is.

“There’s so much attention to it because of him but I’ll never be him, I’ll always be me and that’s just how it’s going to be.”

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Overnight popularity

It has been quite the adjustment for the teen star in the last couple of days. With increased media attention on him amid his bid to land a historic title, Lawrie is keeping a level head.

He said: “I don’t mind it, It’s alright.

“You go on Facebook and stuff and you see your name everywhere. You have a chuckle at yourself and you show your mum and dad.

“But it’s alright, you just need to take it in your stride and whatever comes with it will come with it I guess.”

And Lawrie appears well prepared for what’s to come.

Asked whether he expects the attention on him to build over the coming months, he said: “It might do, it might not. It just depends. I’m really not that bothered, I just want to play darts.”

Victory at Lakeside would see Lawrie scoop a cool £50,000 in prize money while a runner-up spot would see him net £16,000.