Laois darting star falls just short in Girls’ World Darts Final at Lakeside

Ballyroan's Rebecca Allen came agonisingly close to world glory after being defeated in the final of the WDF Girls’ World Darts Championship at the iconic Lakeside venue.

The 16-year-old was beaten 3–0 in the final by Zehra Gemi, who made history by becoming the first-ever Turkish darts world champion. Gemi proved too strong on the day, posting an impressive average of 77 as she claimed the title.

Allen had booked her place in Sunday’s decider with a commanding semi-final performance on Saturday afternoon, defeating England’s Ruby Grey by two sets to nil. That victory capped another outstanding run on the world stage for the talented Laois teenager.

Although Allen fell short in the Lakeside final, her appearance marked the culmination of an extraordinary period in her young darts career. She earned her spot at the championship in Budapest in November, where she enjoyed a standout weekend by capturing the WDF World Masters Girls title.

At the Gerevich Aladar National Sports Hall, Allen defeated England’s Ruby Grey 5–3 in the final. She dominated throughout the tournament, winning all three of her group games without dropping a leg and impressing in four knockout matches to secure her place in the decider.

Her triumph made her only the third Irish player to claim the prestigious title, following Dublin duo Robyn Byrne (2014) and Katie Sheldon (2019).

Allen further enhanced her growing list of achievements by winning the Girls World Open, overcoming defending champion Paige Pauling in the final.

While the Lakeside final ended in disappointment, Allen’s performances have firmly established her as one of Ireland’s brightest young darts prospects and a rising sporting star for Laois.

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