World number one and former champion Luke Littler will be the marquee name among the Tour Card Holders and International Qualifiers who take part in the upcoming Winmau World Youth Championship on Monday. The tournament will showcase a full field of 128 young darts players, a roster that will be confirmed once the Development Tour season wraps up this weekend with Events 21 through 24 scheduled in Wigan on October 3 and 4.
The 2026 edition of the World Youth Championship will unfold in two distinct stages. The opening round‑robin phase, followed by the knockout rounds from the last 64 through to the semi‑finals, will all be staged on Monday, 5 October, at the Robin Park Leisure Centre. Organisers recommend using the Chrome browser to ensure the video player works smoothly for spectators watching online. Littler’s path to this event has been a little turbulent.
He withdrew from Players Championship events 29 and 30 after a disappointing loss at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, which effectively ended his chances of qualifying for the Minehead finals in November. Nevertheless, he remains eligible to compete at the Robin Park venue and will be looking to add another trophy to his growing collection. The championship’s climax – the final – is slated for Sunday, 29 November, at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, running alongside the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals. The prize fund has been boosted, with the winner set to take home £15,000, a significant increase that reflects the tournament’s rising profile.
The 128‑player lineup will be composed of all age‑qualified PDC Tour Card Holders who have accepted an invitation, 26 international representatives, and the remaining spots will be filled by the top performers from the final 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 determined first by the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and then by the Development Tour Rankings. From each group, the two best players will advance to the knockout phase, which begins at the last‑64 stage.
The knockout matches will be contested over a longer format, moving from best‑of‑nine legs in the group stage to best‑of‑11 legs in the elimination rounds. As the world’s top youth player, Littler enters the tournament as the number‑one seed, a status earned by his position as world number one and his triumph in the 2023 World Youth Championship.
He will be joined at the top 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, along with other notable names such as Cam Crabtree, Charlie Manby, Owen Bates and Czech Republic’s Adam Gawlas. The field also features a promising 16‑year‑old from the Junior Darts Circuit, Lewis Cook, as well as emerging talents Kaya Baysal, Archie Self and Ben Townley, all of whom have stepped up to the Development Tour this season.
From the women’s side, Eleanor Cairns and Kyana Frauenfelder have qualified via the PDC Women’s Series rankings. 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 ago, has also opted out, as has Yorick Hofkens. Their absences open the door for a new champion to emerge. The schedule for Monday’s competition begins at 11:30 a.m.
at Robin Park Leisure Centre. Group matches will be played as best of nine legs, providing fast‑paced action for fans.
The top two finishers from each group will then move on to the last‑64 knockout stage, where matches will extend to best of eleven legs, increasing the strategic depth and endurance required. Below is a snapshot of the participants confirmed for the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship, listed by category: **Age‑Qualified Tour Card Holders**: Luke Littler, Sebastian Bialecki, Keane Barry, Cam Crabtree, Dominik Gruellich, Charlie Manby, Leon Weber, Tavis Dudeney, Adam Gawlas, Owen Bates, Jurjen van der Velde, Tyler Thorpe.
**International Qualifiers**: 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), Duyana Decena (Philippines). Beyond the youth tournament, Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts, covering major 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 live darts coverage through the NOW platform without a long‑term contract, ensuring easy access to all the action. In summary, the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship promises a blend of seasoned young stars and fresh talent from around the globe. With a substantial prize fund, a rigorous group‑to‑knockout format, and extensive media coverage, the tournament is set to be a highlight of the darts calendar, offering both players and fans an exciting showcase of the sport’s next generation.