IT WAS only this time 12 months ago that no one outside of hardcore darts circles knew who Luke Littler was.
Fast forward a year and he is among the most famous athletes in the UK and just won an incredible TENTH title of the season in the Grand Slam with a truly sensational 16-3 battering of Martin Lukeman.
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Littler, 17, reached the final of the World Championships and has risen to No 5 in the two-year world rankings inside a year.
But it was on November 26, 2023, when darts fans started noticing the teenager as he beat Gian van Veen – five years his senior – in the World Youth Championship final.
This year’s finale will take place THIS WEEKEND with Van Veen looking to go one better than he did last year.
When is the World Youth Championship darts 2024?
Qualification for the tournament started on October 14, with the 128-player field whittled down from 32 groups of four into a knockout phase of 32.
The likes of Keane Barry, Wessel Nijman and Owen Bates all made the last 32, but it was Van Veen and Jurjen van der Velde who made it into the final.
The Dutch pair will now meet at Butlin’s Minehead Resort on November 24.
The match will take place alongside the Players Championship Finals, with the final to be played in between the semi-finals and final of that tournament on Sunday night.
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Van Veen, who was impressive in reaching the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts, is also seeded No 20 in the Players Championships and will be playing Scott Williams in his first match on Friday.
The World Youth Championship Final will be a best-of-11 clash.
Where can I watch the World Youth Championship darts 2024?
- The final of the World Youth Championship will be broadcast during the Players Championship Finals in the evening session on Sunday, November 24.
- The match will take place between the semi-finals and the showpiece final.
- With the evening session set to kick off at 7pm, the Youth final, can be expected to take place at around 9pm.
- The match will be broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK and PDCTV worldwide.
- Alternatively, SunSport will be blogging the Players Championship and the World Youth Championship final.
World Youth Championship darts 2024 schedule / results
Monday, October 14 (also group stages and last 32)
Last 16
- Gian van Veen 6-2 Marvin van Velzen
- Nathan Rafferty 6-2 Bradley Brooks
- Wessel Nijman 6-3 Sebastian Bialecki
- Dylan Slevin 6-1 Dominik Gruellich
- Keane Barry 6-4 Niko Springer
- Jenson Walker 6-5 Kayden Milne
- Adam Gawlas 6-1 Xanti Van den Bergh
- Jurjen van der Velde 6-4 Roy Rietbergen
Quarter-Finals
- Gian van Veen 6-4 Nathan Rafferty
- Dylan Slevin 6-5 Wessel Nijman
- Keane Barry 6-1 Jenson Walker
- Jurjen van der Velde 6-5 Adam Gawlas
Semi-Finals
- Gian van Veen 6-2 Dylan Slevin
- Jurjen van der Velde 6-4 Keane Barry
Sunday, November 24
Final
- Gian van Veen vs Jurjen van der Velde (approx. 9pm)
What is the prize money for the World Youth Championship darts 2024?
The total prize pot for the tournament is the biggest ever, with a huge £100,000 on offer.
Van Veen and Van der Velde will battle for a £12,000 top prize in the final.
Here’s the full breakdown:
- Fourth in group: £250
- Third in group: £400
- Second in group: £600
- Last 32: £1,000
- Last 16: £1,500
- Quarter-Final: £2,000
- Semi-Final: £3,000
- Runner-up: £6,000 plus invite to 2025 Grand Slam of Darts
- Winner: £12,000 plus invite to 2025 Grand Slam of Darts + 2025 World Championships