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.
PDCLuke Littler won the World Youth Championship last year ahead of his meteoric rise[/caption]
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.
RexGian van Veen reached the final last year and will be hoping to go one better[/caption]
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