Meet the six-year-old Lincolnshire darts prodigy hoping to become future world champion
A six-year-old darts[1] prodigy from Lincolnshire hopes to become the sport's next young star - and he has already hit a bullseye live on TV. Lucas Maidment, from Louth[2], is a darts fanatic who started throwing at the age of two after watching his dad and other family members play.
In the words of his dad Tom, 29, Lucas "throws like a natural" for his age and even hit his first 180 in February, last year. Tom and his partner Laura, also 29, say they are very proud parents. Tom said: "We don't push him in anyway, if he doesn't want to play or go on TV shows that is fine and we 100 per cent support him.
"He is loving it. You don't get many kids his age playing darts, never mind throwing a dart like he does." Lucas has appeared on Good Morning Britain and more recently on This Morning where he shocked presenters Josie Gibson and Rylan Clarke by hitting a bullseye on his first attempt.
Lucas says his favourite player has always been Peter Wright and he used to copy his walk-on dance when he was little. The six-year-old star has met former world champions Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen. He has also been lucky enough to receive shirts from van Gerwen, current world champion Luke Humphries and the voice of darts Russ Bray.
Lucas and his dad on the set of This Morning with presenters Josie Gibson and Rylan Clarke (Image: Tom Maidment)
The recent PDC World Championship, which saw 16-year-old Luke Littler make a fairytale run to the final, inspired Lucas to get back on the board. Tom said: "He's enjoyed watching the world championship and he started playing again as soon as it was on TV.
"He always says he is going to be a darts player when he's older. We are just very proud of him and will support him all the way."