Harrogate darts ace Ben Pilgrim secures place at Junior Darts Corporation World Championships

A 13-year-old Harrogate darts ace will be heading to the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) World Championships in November.

Ben Pilgrim only began playing competitively a little over a year ago, but has already become a regular face in both the North East junior tournaments and local competitions.

Harrogate teenager Ben Pilgrim is headed for the Junior Darts Corporation's World Championships later this year following a couple of impressive showings on the domestic circuit. Picture: Submitted

placeholder image — Harrogate teenager Ben Pilgrim is headed for the Junior Darts Corporation's World Championships later this year following a couple of impressive showings on the domestic circuit. Picture: Submitted

He drew on that experience to produce his best darts when it mattered most to claim his biggest title to date, at the JDC North East Regional Finals.

Competing on home turf at the Manhattan Snooker Club earlier this month, Pilgrim came through a strong field of 32 players to win the event.

His impressive run included a stunning 100.2 three-dart average in his semi-final victory over an excellent but unfortunate George Buckley, before he defeated another of Yorkshire's leading young talents, Harrison Meggitt, 4-1 in the final.

Pilgrim’s performance not only earned him a place at the prestigious JDC World Championships, which takes place in Gibraltar later this year, but also saw him qualify for the JDC National finals in Bristol.

Despite the almost immediate turnaround, the Boston Spa Academy pupil again gave a great account of himself down in the South West, despite being up against some of the United Kingdom’s top young talents.

He made it as far as the semi-finals before eventually tasting defeat, though his experience in such a fiercely-contested competition will undoubtedly stand him in good stead for the World Championships.

Last year's event featured 216 young prospects, with 22 nations represented. Scotland's Mitchell Lawrie eventually took the title, while previous winners of the championships include current Professional Darts Corporation stars Luke Littler and Keane Barry.

Thus, Pilgrim can look forward to having the opportunity to test himself against the very best darters from around the world when he travels to Gibraltar later this year.

The Manhattan Snooker Club hosts weekly junior darts tournaments as part of the JDC pathway, every Monday at 6pm.

For more information please contact Dave Pilgrim on 07816 228409 or join Harrogate Youth Darts Group on Facebook.