World number one and former champion Luke Littler will be the marquee name among the Tour Card Holders and International Qualifiers taking part 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) scheduled for October 3‑4 in Wigan.
The 2026 edition of the World Youth Championship will unfold over two distinct phases. The opening round‑robin stage and the subsequent knockout rounds, starting from the last 64 and culminating in the semi‑finals, are all slated for Monday, October 5, at the Robin Park Leisure Centre. Organisers advise spectators to view the live video feed using the Chrome browser for the best experience.
Littler’s path to the event has been eventful. He withdrew from Players Championship 29 and 30 after a disappointing loss at the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, a decision that effectively ended his hopes of qualifying for the Minehead finals in November.
Nevertheless, his ranking still secures him a spot at the venue, and he remains a favorite to lift the trophy. The championship final will be staged on Sunday, November 29, at the Butlin's Minehead Resort, running alongside the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals. A heightened top prize of £15,000 will be on offer, adding extra incentive for the young talent competing for the title.
The 128‑player field is composed of several distinct groups. All age‑qualified PDC Tour Card Holders who have accepted an invitation are included, alongside 26 international representatives. The remaining slots will be filled by the highest‑ranked players from the Development Tour Rankings once the season concludes.
During the group stage, the competitors will be divided into 32 groups of four players each. Each group will contain a single seeded player, with seedings determined first by the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder and then by the Development Tour Rankings.
The round‑robin matches will be played over the best of nine legs. The two best performers from each group will advance to the knockout phase, which begins at the last‑64 stage and will be contested over the best of eleven legs. As the world’s top junior, Littler enters the tournament as the top seed, reflecting his status as world number one. 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 promising names such as Cam Crabtree, Charlie Manby, Owen Bates, and the Czech representative Adam Gawlas. The field also showcases emerging talent from the Junior Darts Circuit (JDC).
Sixteen‑year‑old Lewis Cook, a standout on the JDC, will compete alongside other rising stars like 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 rankings, Eleanor Cairns and Kyana Frauenfelder will also be represented, highlighting the growing inclusivity of the sport. Notably, two‑time reigning 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 also opted out. Yorick Hofkens is another notable absentee from Monday’s lineup.
The schedule for Monday’s competition begins at 11:30 am, with group matches played in a best‑of‑nine‑legs format. After the round‑robin phase, the top two players from each group will move into the last‑64 knockout bracket, where matches will extend to a best‑of‑eleven‑legs format, increasing the challenge and excitement for both players and fans. A snapshot of the age‑qualified Tour Card Holders includes: - Luke Littler (England) - Sebastian Bialecki (Poland) - Keane Barry (Ireland) - Cam Crabtree (England) - Dominik Gruellich (Germany) - Charlie Manby (England) - Leon Weber (Germany) - Tavis Dudeney (England) - Adam Gawlas (Czechia) - Owen Bates (England) - Jurjen van der Velde (Netherlands) - Tyler Thorpe (England) International qualifiers round out the roster, featuring 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).
For darts enthusiasts, Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster, covering major events such as the World Grand Prix (running until October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). Fans can also stream matches and related content via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free viewing option. Overall, the 2026 Winmau World Youth Championship promises a blend of seasoned youth champions and fresh talent, all competing for a prestigious title and a substantial prize fund.
With the tournament’s format designed to test consistency in the group stage and resilience in the knockout rounds, spectators can expect high‑quality darts and a showcase of the sport’s next generation of stars.