The 2025 PDC World Youth Championship Final will be contested between reigning champion Gian van Veen and the best female arrow-smith on the planet, Beau Greaves.
With the curtain coming down on this season’s Development Tour events in Wigan, it was time to find out which two young stars would battle it out in Minehead next month.
Fresh off his World Grand Prix triumph the night before, Luke Littler confirmed he’d be joining the field to have another crack at the title he won in 2023.
Even from Mars, you could probably hear the collective groan from dozens of hopefuls in various Wigan hotel rooms. They already knew Van Veen would be at the dance – that was worrying enough – but seeing Littler waltz into Robin Park on Sunday morning wasn’t exactly the sight they were hoping for.
The young Dutchman was determined to hang onto his crown and began his campaign strongly, breezing past compatriots Damian Vetjens and Jeffrey Keen.
Ireland’s Aidan O’Hara pushed him all the way before falling in a last-leg decider, and a convincing 6–2 win over an out-of-sorts Cam Crabtree sent Van Veen into the semi-finals. There, he met Sebastian Bialecki in a high-quality encounter, but the reigning champion held firm to make history – becoming the first player ever to reach three consecutive World Youth Championship finals (in fact, three full stop), all against different opponents.
Meanwhile, Beau Greaves was having a fine old time in Wigan – though, unusually, not by lifting yet another title. The Yorkshire starlet had already secured her PDC Tour Card by Saturday evening, something that was more or less a formality before she even set foot in Lancashire. With that bit of business taken care of, the 21-year-old turned her attention to a potential November road trip to the Somerset coast – not for a freezing dip in the Bristol Channel, but for a shot at another slice of darting history.
Smashing in averages well into the 90s, Greaves barely broke a sweat as she tore through the field. Tyler Thorpe came closest, bowing out 6–4, while Germany’s Liam Maendl-Lawrance battled gamely before going down 6–2. The Beau show was rolling, and it wasn’t slowing down.
Then came the main event – Littler vs Greaves.
The Nuke versus Beau & Arrow. Most would agree they’re the best male and female players on the planet right now – regardless of what the official rankings say. It was a fascinating match-up, and thankfully, it delivered everything fans hoped for.
Both players were relentless on the treble 20, lighting up the stage in a contest of breathtaking quality. Littler came out firing, storming into a 4–2 lead, including a pair of sublime 10-dart legs. With arrows in hand, he looked a heavy favourite. But Greaves, as she so often does, refused to roll over.
The Doncaster dynamo broke back immediately, then levelled with a spellbinding display of precision.After both held throw, it all came down to one final, deciding leg. Greaves needed to break – and she did so in spectacular fashion, producing an 11-darter to clinch it while Littler waited helplessly on a double.
At youth level, you’ll struggle to find a higher-quality game of darts anywhere. Two prodigies, both destined to dominate the sport for years to come, producing a match for the ages. Littler gave it everything but fell short by the width of a wire. Greaves, who’s already conquered practically every youth title available, now has the chance to claim the one missing from her glittering collection.
So, just ahead of the Players Championship Finals, it’ll be reigning champion Gian van Veen defending his crown against the sensational Beau Greaves. However it ends, one thing’s for certain – the trophy will be going home with one of the most talented young players this generation has ever seen.
—-Ends—-
