Sheerness darts player Drake Porter reached the semi-finals of the JDC World Darts Championships at the weekend.

The junior darts tournament is for under-18s and is considered the top event in the world for youth players. Darts sensation Luke Littler, who is now the reigning Premier League champion, won it in the previous two years.

Littler was in the crowd to watch the 2024 junior event which saw Porter, aged just 12 and one of the youngest competitors taking part, produce a sensational performance to reach the semi-finals.

Porter, a Borden Grammar School pupil, was just one win away from making it to the world final which takes place at the Alexandra Palace as part of the senior PDC World Championship event.

Mum Sophie said: “He went to Gibraltar as a qualifier after playing in the JDC foundation tour last year and we just told him to enjoy the experience - just have fun. Nobody had any expectations but he replied: ‘No, I’m going there to win it!’

“He was playing against older competitors and we didn’t want him to put too much pressure on himself. To get to the semi-finals was just ridiculous, it’s crazy.”

Porter beat German Julian Demiri in his first knockout match, edging past Ireland’s James Morris in the next round 4-3 with an 81.26 average and making it to the quarters with a win over fellow English competitor Jack Marshall.

He beat Poland’s Piotr Chochol to book his place in the semis where he lost out to Daniel Stephenson, losing 5-2. The final will be between Stephenson, 16, and another young player from Belgium, 13-year-old Lex Paeshuyse.

Porter, who previously stunned former world champion Rob Cross with his quality when they met at an exhibition event, plays at the East Kent Darts Academy - an affiliated academy sponsored by the Junior Darts Corporation. Students at the EKDA can pick up points in challenge matches which goes towards a ranking and the chance to play in the England team.

“He wants to wear the England shirt - that’s his next aim,” said his mum.

Porter’s already signed a three-year sponsorship deal with major darts brand Winmau off the back of his foundation tour success which led to him becoming a JDC cadet.

He will return to competitive action in February after obtaining his JDC advanced tour card which will see him compete regularly against high level players. He also plays for Kent youth.

Sophie added: “It’s amazing and we are ridiculously proud of him and what he is achieving. It seems like he has no nerves.

“How they can do that and perform with so many people watching, they just soak it up and take in the atmosphere. He is so driven in what he wants to do.

“He wants to be a professional darts player and he has been inspired by the success that Luke Littler has had so quickly. His words were: ‘If Luke can do it then there is no reason why I can’t’.

“Drake is one of many gifted children and what he is doing is fantastic.

“It is good he has that drive and that people like Luke can inspire them.

“To have got to the world semi-finals already has made him want to win the tournament even more and we’ll see what happens.”