Luke Littler's campaign at the World Youth Championship came to an abrupt halt when he was edged out by Cam Crabtree in a tightly contested semi-final match. The encounter, which unfolded at Minehead, saw Crabtree emerge victorious with a 6-5 scoreline, securing his place in the final where he will face Jan Schmidt. The match began with Crabtree establishing a swift 2-0 lead, putting immediate pressure on the 2023 World Youth Champion. Littler, however, demonstrated his resilience by clawing back to level the scores, showcasing the fighting spirit that has defined his rapid rise in the sport.
Despite his comeback, Crabtree managed to regain momentum, ultimately overtaking Littler in the decisive legs. This semi-final was Littler's first competitive outing since his surprising loss to Luke Woodhouse in the opening round of the World Grand Prix. In that earlier encounter, Littler had been expected to dominate, but Woodhouse's steady play saw the young prodigy fall short, marking a rare setback in an otherwise stellar season.
During the semi-final, Crabtree quickly surged ahead to 2-0, but Littler responded with a remarkable three‑leg streak that turned the tide. After a brilliant 164 checkout, the Warrington sensation followed up with consecutive 14‑dart finishes, pulling ahead 3-2. Crabtree, undeterred, answered with finishes of 92 and 100, reclaiming the lead at 5-4.
Littler then produced a superb 117 checkout to force a deciding leg. In the final showdown, Crabtree held his nerve, finishing on a double six after 16 darts and posting a 97.91 average to clinch the match. The narrow defeat was a bitter pill for Littler, who had been flawless throughout the group stage, winning all three of his matches.
Prior to the semi-final, Littler's path had been impressive. He dispatched Lewis Cook after a dramatic comeback—Cook, only 16 at the time, had surged to a 3-0 lead before Littler rallied to win. Littler then recorded a dominant 6-1 victory over David Fidler and a hard‑fought 6-4 win against Archie Self to reach the quarter‑finals. A 6-2 triumph over Harrison Leigh secured his place in the last four, where the 23‑year‑old Crabtree proved a formidable opponent.
The World Youth Championship, open to players aged 16‑24, offers a prize fund of £60,000 and serves as a showcase for the sport's emerging talent. Earlier in the year, Littler appeared poised to capture every major PDC title in 2026, but his ambitions were dampened in Amsterdam when he voiced frustration over persistent whistling from Dutch spectators. That incident seemed to herald a dip in form, which was later compounded by unexpected defeats at both the World Grand Prix and now the Youth Championship. Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle expressed puzzlement over Littler's decision to enter the Youth event, questioning the value of the tournament for a player of his stature.
"I don't know what he wants to gain from it," Mardle said. "It doesn't make any sense to me. I just don't see the value time‑wise.
Because time‑management's everything when you're playing a lot." Mardle also reflected on Littler's recent losses, emphasizing that inconsistency is part of any athlete's journey. "I'm never concerned with people losing because this is a hard industry to keep winning. The fact that he was winning all those matches on the trot in majors anyway was ridiculous," he noted. He added that Littler's recent performances have not lived up to his usual standards, but stressed that everyone experiences off days.
"He's just having a couple of off days right now," Mardle concluded. Looking ahead, the European Tour continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9‑11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16‑18 October), followed by the European Championship in Dortmund (22‑25 October). Sky Sports will remain the primary broadcaster for major events, including the Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January), both available for streaming via NOW without a contract.
For fans seeking a smoother viewing experience, using the Chrome browser is recommended to access a more accessible video player. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Littler to see if he can rediscover his winning form and return to the top of the darts world.