CANVEY darts player Bradley Halls is pitting his wits against players from around the globe at the WDF World Cup this week.

The 15-year-old has been selected as part of an eight-strong England team to contest the week-long event at St Johns in Canada.

And mum Amanda Porter admits the Cornelius Vermuden pupil was thrilled to get the call up.

“Bradley was in high spirits heading out to Canada and couldn’t wait to get playing,” Amanda said.

“This is the peak for him so far. To be play at the World Cup is the highest honour in the BDO (British Darts Organisation) without turning professional.

“He is the only boy in England who has been selected and is the first from Essex as far as we know.”

Bradley will be playing in the boys singles in group one and then teaming up with Casey Gallagher to contest the youth mixed pairs section, again playing in group one.

The group stages are played on a round robin basis before progressing to the knockout stages.

Bradley and Casey, who is from Kent, know each other from the England set-up and will be joined by senior players Stephen Bunting, Scott Waites, Tony O’Shea, Glen Durrant, Trina Gulliver and Deta Hedman at St Johns.

But it will not all be fun for Bradley as he has taken school work out to Canada ahead of exams when he returns to Canvey.

Bradley has been playing for England for two years following a rapid progression in the sport.

He started playing when he was two or three following in the footsteps of his dad Philip Halls who represented Essex men in the sport.

Since then the teenager has practised daily at home to hone his skills and now plays league matches three times a week in the Essex Men’s Super League for Basildon, in the Wickford & District League and the Canvey & District League.

Bradley has already won a raft of league honours and has been a finalists at county events.

His progress has seen him selected to play for the Essex Men’s B team — he is believed to be the youngest player to do so — and has competed at British and European level.