World number one and former champion Luke Littler is slated to headline the roster of Tour Card Holders and International Qualifiers who will compete in the upcoming Winmau World Youth Championship on Monday. The event, which gathers the sport's most promising young talent, will showcase a full field of 128 players once the Development Tour season wraps up this weekend.
The final Development Tour events, numbered 21 through 24, will be staged in Wigan on 3‑4 October, and the results from those tournaments will determine the remaining spots in the championship lineup. The 2026 edition of the World Youth Championship will unfold over two distinct phases.
The round‑robin stage and the early knockout rounds, covering the last 64 through to the semi‑finals, are scheduled for Monday, 5 October, at the Robin Park Leisure Centre. Organisers advise spectators to use the Chrome browser for the most reliable video‑player experience. Littler’s path to this event has been eventful.
He withdrew from Players Championship events 29 and 30 after a disappointing loss at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, a decision that effectively ended his chances of qualifying for the Minehead finals in November. Nevertheless, his status as a top‑ranked player guarantees his participation at the venue, and he remains a favorite to contend for the title. The championship’s climax will take place on Sunday, 29 November, at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, coinciding with the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals. The prize fund has been increased, with the champion set to receive a boosted top prize of £15,000.
The composition of the 128‑player field reflects a blend of age‑qualified PDC Tour Card Holders who have accepted invitations, 26 international representatives, and the remaining slots filled by the highest‑ranked players on the Development Tour Rankings. During the group stage, the competitors will be divided into 32 groups of four, each group containing a single seeded player.
Seedings are derived first from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and then from the Development Tour Rankings. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the knockout phase, which begins at the last‑64 stage.
As the reigning world youth champion, having captured the title in 2023, Littler will enter the tournament as the top seed, a reflection of his world‑number‑one ranking. He will be joined at the summit of the seedings by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki and Ireland’s Keane Barry. Former runner‑up Jurjen van der Velde, who finished second in 2024, will also be back in the mix, alongside notable names such as Cam Crabtree, Charlie Manby, Owen Bates, and Adam Gawlas from the Czech Republic. The field also highlights emerging talent from the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC).
Sixteen‑year‑old Lewis Cook is making his debut, while other rising stars like Kaya Baysal, Archie Self, and Ben Townley have already stepped up to compete on the Development Tour this year. From the PDC Women’s Series rankings, Eleanor Cairns and Kyana Frauenfelder will also be represented, underscoring the tournament’s inclusive approach.
Notably, two‑time champion Gian van Veen will not be defending his title, and former runner‑up Beau Greaves, who lost to van Veen a year earlier, has opted out, as has Yorick Hofkens. Their absences open additional opportunities for other competitors to make a deep run. Match play will commence at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, with group‑stage contests played over the best of nine legs.
The two leading players from each group will then move into the last‑64 knockout round, which will be contested over the best of eleven legs. This format ensures a blend of endurance and precision, rewarding consistency across both short and slightly longer matches. The tournament’s schedule also lists the full roster of age‑qualified Tour Card Holders, including Luke Littler, Sebastian Bialecki, Keane Barry, Cam Crabtree, Dominik Gruellich, Charlie Manby, Leon Weber, Tavis Dudeney, Adam Gawlas, Owen Bates, Jurjen van der Velde, and Tyler Thorpe, among others.
International qualifiers will represent a broad geographic spread, with players such as Liam Maendl‑Lawrance (Germany), Mika Donnevert (Germany), Mio Varila (Finland), Alexander Thorvaldsson (Iceland), Daniel Kortbek (Denmark), Ky Smith (Australia), Bailey Marsh (Australia), Jayden Wedemeyer (Australia), Mitchel Beswick (Australia), Jack Sheppard (New Zealand), Hunter Eyles (New Zealand), Zacarno King (New Zealand), Zachary Meeks (USA), Conner Olson (USA), Liam McNeil (Canada), Benjamin Goddard (Canada), Craig Galliano (Gibraltar), Hayden Moodley (South Africa), Jason Britz (South Africa), Eleanor Cairns (England), Kyana Frauenfelder (Netherlands), Lewis Cook (England), Jaichen Song (China), Hiroyuki Tanaka (Japan), Zhijun Cui (China), and Duyana Decena (Philippines). Beyond the youth championship, Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts, delivering live coverage of marquee events such as the World Grand Prix (running until 4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November), and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January). Fans can also stream darts and related content via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing option.
Overall, the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship promises a compelling mix of seasoned young professionals and fresh faces eager to make their mark on the sport. With a robust prize fund, a comprehensive group‑stage format, and a diverse international lineup, the tournament is set to deliver high‑quality darts action and potentially crown the next generation’s leading star.