Renfrewshire Council has agreed to host a civic reception for 15-year-old Renfrew resident Mitchell Lawrie following a remarkable week at the WDF World Championships that has drawn international attention.
Lawrie stunned the darts world at the famous Lakeside venue after being crowned WDF Open Youth World Champion, defeating Germany’s Florian Preis 4–2 in the final. The victory earned him £3,000 in prize money and made him the first Scottish player ever to win the youth world title.
But his achievements did not stop there. Just hours after lifting the junior trophy, the 15-year-old stepped onto the stage for the senior WDF World Championship, becoming the first teenager in history to reach the final of the competition.
Lawrie surged into a 3–0 lead in the final before eventually being pulled back and beaten 6–3 by Dutch top seed Jimmy van Schie. Even in defeat, his performance drew widespread praise from players, commentators and fans.
Van Schie described Lawrie as “a phenomenal player,” adding: “He’s a power scorer, so mature for his age and the sky is the limit for him. He’s the future of darts.”
Across nine matches during the tournament, Lawrie hit a staggering 56 maximum 180s, more than any other player in the field, while maintaining a three-dart average of 93.15, numbers more commonly associated with established professionals.
His performances have already drawn comparisons with Luke Littler, who became a global sensation after reaching the PDC World Championship final at the age of 16.
The scale of Lawrie’s achievement prompted Councillor John Shaw to bring an emergency motion to full council, calling for formal civic recognition.
Speaking during the meeting, Shaw said the town had been “absolutely buzzing” throughout the tournament.
He told councillors: “You didn’t even need to be at Lakeside to feel the excitement. Everywhere I went, people were talking about Mitchell. Even people who had never watched darts before.”
Councillors also praised Lawrie’s composure away from the oche, noting his calm and confident interviews despite his age and the pressure of the occasion.
Councillor Lisa Marie Hughes said his performances had captured attention far beyond the usual darts audience.
She added: “I watched the whole week. He’s an incredible talent and a huge credit to the town.”
The motion was agreed unanimously, with councillors describing Lawrie’s double-final appearance as one of the most significant breakthroughs ever achieved by a Scottish darts player.
A civic reception will now be arranged in consultation with Mitchell Lawrie and his family to formally recognise his achievements and the pride he has brought to Renfrewshire.
Photo Credit: Darts screengrab