World number one and former champion Luke Littler will be the marquee name among the Tour Card Holders and International Qualifiers slated to compete in the upcoming Winmau World Youth Championship on Monday. The tournament’s full roster of 128 competitors will be locked in after the Development Tour season wraps up this weekend, with the final four Development Tour events (Events 21‑24) taking place in Wigan on October 3‑4.
The 2026 edition of the World Youth Championship will unfold in two distinct phases. The round‑robin group stage and the early knockout rounds – from the last 64 through to the semi‑finals – are scheduled for Monday, October 5, at the Robin Park Leisure Centre. Participants and fans are advised to use the Chrome browser for optimal video playback. Littler’s recent schedule has been busy.
He withdrew from Players Championship 29 and 30 after a loss at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, a result that effectively ended his hopes of qualifying for the Minehead finals in November. Nevertheless, the young star remains eligible to compete at the venue and is expected to bring his trademark precision and composure to the youth event.
The championship’s climax will occur on Sunday, November 29, when the final is staged at Butlin’s Minehead Resort as part of the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals. The winner will walk away with a boosted top prize of £15,000, underscoring the high stakes for the emerging talent on display. The 128‑player field is composed of several distinct groups.
All age‑qualified PDC Tour Card Holders who have accepted an invitation will take part, alongside 26 international representatives selected by their national bodies. The remaining slots will be filled by the highest‑ranked players on the Development Tour Rankings after the season concludes.
During the group stage, the competitors will be divided into 32 groups of four players each. Every group will contain one seeded player, with seedings determined first by the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and then by the Development Tour Rankings. Each group will engage in a round‑robin format, playing best‑of‑nine‑leg matches. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the knockout phase, which begins at the last‑64 stage and proceeds in a best‑of‑eleven‑leg format.
As the world‑number‑one youth player, Littler enters the tournament as the top seed, a status earned after his 2023 World Youth Championship triumph and his continued dominance on the circuit. He will be joined at the top of the seeding list by Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki and Ireland’s Keane Barry, both of whom have demonstrated strong performances throughout the Development Tour. Returning competitors include 2024 runner‑up Jurjen van der Velde, who will be looking to improve on his previous finish, as well as familiar faces such as Cam Crabtree, Charlie Manby, Owen Bates, and Czech representative Adam Gawlas. The field also showcases rising stars from the Junior Darts Circuit, including 16‑year‑old Lewis Cook, alongside Kaya Baysal, Archie Self and Ben Townley, all of whom have stepped up to the Development Tour this season.
From the PDC Women’s Series, Eleanor Cairns and Kyana Frauenfelder have earned spots based on their rankings, highlighting the growing inclusivity of the youth competition. Notably, two‑time reigning champion Gian van Veen will not be defending his title, and former runner‑up Beau Greaves, as well as Yorick Hofkens, have opted out of Monday’s event. The schedule for Monday’s opening day begins at 11:30 am, with group matches played in a best‑of‑nine‑leg format. After the group stage, the tournament shifts to a straight knockout format, with the last‑64 matches contested over best‑of‑eleven legs.
This structure ensures a blend of endurance and skill, rewarding consistency in the early rounds and the ability to perform under pressure in the later stages. Below is a snapshot of the age‑qualified Tour Card Holders expected to compete: 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 representing a wide range of darts‑playing nations will also be present, including: - Germany: Liam Maendl‑Lawrance, Mika Donnevert - Finland: Mio Varila - Iceland: Alexander Thorvaldsson - Denmark: Daniel Kortbek - Australia: Ky Smith, Bailey Marsh, Jayden Wedemeyer, Mitchel Beswick - New Zealand: Jack Sheppard, Hunter Eyles, Zacarno King - United States: Zachary Meeks, Conner Olson - Canada: Liam McNeil, Benjamin Goddard - Gibraltar: Craig Galliano - South Africa: Hayden Moodley, Jason Britz - England: Eleanor Cairns, Lewis Cook - Netherlands: Kyana Frauenfelder - China: Jaichen Song, Zhijun Cui - Japan: Hiroyuki Tanaka - Philippines: Duyana Decena These participants reflect the global reach of darts and the growing popularity of the youth circuit. Their inclusion adds depth and diversity to the competition, offering a platform for talent from both traditional darts strongholds and emerging markets.
Beyond the youth championship, Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for major darts events, covering the World Grand Prix (until October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). Fans can also stream live darts action through the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing experience. In summary, the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship promises a compelling blend of established young stars and fresh faces from around the world. With a rigorous format, substantial prize money, and extensive media coverage, the tournament is set to be a pivotal milestone in the careers of the next generation of darts professionals.