Meet the 13-year-old darts wonderkid who’s competing for world title at Ally Pally and has been watched by Luke Littler
LEX PAESHUYSE will compete for a world title at Ally Pally later this month at the age of just THIRTEEN.
The Belgian will face Englishman Daniel Stephenson – who is three years older than him – in the final of the Junior Darts Corporation on December 21.
He has made it to the huge London clash after beating players up to the age of 18 in an event in Gibraltar.
Paeshuyse struggled at the start of the tournament after slumping to an average of just 52 in one match.
But his fortunes started to turn after darts sensation Luke Littler, 17, watched one of his matches.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Paeshuyse’s mum, Inez, said: “The start was rough. It all didn’t go the way he wanted. There were also not one but a couple of equipment changes and then you quickly start thinking ‘oy’.
“After the pools we were still thinking, ‘How are we going to catch him here?’ And then right after that he runs into this Branley, who won the tournament from Luke Littler here on Tuesday.
“Then it was ‘ow’ again, and after that again because it was against someone they’re making a documentary about.
“Because of that it was again all the cameras on him, and the match after that Littler himself was watching our Lex. It was always something!”
As well as the JDC final, Paeshuyse will also be competing in the World Youth Championship – a tournament Littler won in 2023.
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And mum Inez has admitted they are astonished by how quickly he is progressing.
She added: “Lex still amazes me every day. We came here without expectations and then he performs this … Unreal it is.
“It also goes so fast. Six months ago we started throwing JDC to see how it would go.
“And suddenly next month he is on the big stage in ‘Ally Pally’, as the first Belgian ever in the final of the JDC World Championship.
“It’s crazy, but we keep both feet on the ground.”