World number one and former champion Luke Littler is slated to be a marquee name among the Tour Card Holders and International Qualifiers who will compete in the upcoming Winmau World Youth Championship on Monday. The tournament will showcase a total of 128 competitors, a roster that will be finalized once the Development Tour season wraps up this weekend, with the concluding events (numbers 21 through 24) scheduled for October 3‑4 in Wigan. The 2026 edition of the World Youth Championship will unfold in two distinct phases.
The initial round‑robin stage and the subsequent knockout rounds, beginning with the last 64 and culminating in the semi‑finals, are all set to take place on Monday, October 5, at the Robin Park Leisure Centre. Organisers advise spectators to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback. Littler’s recent schedule has been a bit turbulent.
He withdrew from Players Championship events 29 and 30 after a loss at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, a decision that effectively ended his chances of qualifying for the Minehead finals in November. Nevertheless, he remains eligible to appear at the venue for the youth competition. The championship’s climax is scheduled for Sunday, November 29, when the final will be staged at Butlin’s Minehead Resort as part of the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals.
The winner will walk away with a heightened top prize of £15,000. The composition of the 128‑player field is a blend of age‑qualified PDC Tour Card Holders who have accepted invitations, 26 international representatives, and the remaining spots filled by the highest‑ranked players on the Development Tour Rankings. During the group stage, participants will be divided into 32 groups of four, each group featuring a single seeded player. Seedings are derived first from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and then from the Development Tour Rankings.
From each group, the top two finishers will advance to the knockout phase, which commences at the last‑64 stage. Again, Chrome is recommended for the most accessible video streaming experience. As the reigning World Youth Champion from 2023, Littler will carry the top seed, reflecting his status as world number one.
He will be joined in the seeding hierarchy by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki and Ireland’s Keane Barry. Former runner‑up Jurjen van der Velde, who finished second in 2024, will also return, alongside notable names such as Cam Crabtree, Charlie Manby, Owen Bates, and Czech competitor Adam Gawlas. The field also highlights emerging talent like 16‑year‑old Lewis Cook from the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) circuit, as well as rising stars Kaya Baysal, Archie Self, and Ben Townley, all of whom have stepped up to the Development Tour this season. Women’s Series representatives Eleanor Cairns and Kyana Frauenfelder will also be present, reflecting the growing inclusivity of the sport.
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, along with Yorick Hofkens, have opted out of Monday’s event. The schedule for Monday begins at 11:30 am, with group matches contested over a best‑of‑nine‑legs format.
The two best performers from each group will then move on to the last‑64 knockout round, which will be played as best‑of‑eleven legs. A snapshot of the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship line‑up includes: - 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 competition, Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts, covering major events such as the World Grand Prix (running through October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). Fans can also stream darts and additional sports content via NOW, which offers a contract‑free viewing option. Overall, the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship promises a blend of seasoned young professionals and fresh talent from around the globe, all competing for a coveted title and a substantial prize fund. The event not only highlights the depth of emerging darts talent but also reinforces the sport’s expanding international reach and its commitment to providing a platform for the next generation of champions.