Cam Crabtree denied Luke Littler a Minehead return and booked a place in the Winmau World Youth Championship darts final, edging the world number one 6-5 in a semi-final of the highest quality at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.
Both men averaged 97.9 in a proper shoot-out. Crabtree, who had already locked up an Alexandra Palace place via the Development Tour Order of Merit the day before, held his nerve when it mattered and will now meet Germany’s Jan Schmidt on the televised stage at Butlin’s Minehead on 29 November, between the semi-finals and final of the Players Championship Finals.
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Littler, invited as an age-qualified Tour Card holder, had looked the man to beat all day. He sailed through his group, then beat Lewis Cook 6-4 after trailing 3-1, David Fidler 6-1 on 96.58, Archie Self 6-4 and Harrison Leigh 6-2. Cook was the only real scare. The semi proved one too many.
Schmidt was the day’s other story. The 22-year-old dumped second seed Sebastian Bialecki 6-2 in the last 16, survived Henry Coates 6-5 in the quarters, then saw off Charlie Manby 6-3 in the other semi to reach a first major youth final. A win in Minehead would also hand him a World Championship debut.
Defending champion Gian van Veen and last year’s finalist Beau Greaves both stayed away. Seeded threats fell early or late: Keane Barry lost his first knockout to Angelo Balsamo, Jamai van den Herik went out to Coates, and Kaya Baysal’s run ended 6-4 against Crabtree in the quarters despite a 94 average.
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The final is best of 11 legs. Winner also earns a Grand Slam place; the champion takes the Ally Pally spot if not already qualified.
Winmau World Youth Championship Darts 2026
Results (knockout, best of 11 legs)
Semi-finals
Cam Crabtree 6-5 Luke Littler (97.91–97.89)
Jan Schmidt 6-3 Charlie Manby (94.85–91.63)Quarter-finals
Luke Littler 6-2 Harrison Leigh (92.77–86.10)
Cam Crabtree 6-4 Kaya Baysal (88.34–94.52)
Jan Schmidt 6-5 Henry Coates (90.63–89.67)
Charlie Manby 6-2 Arthur Allston (87.59–83.08)Last 16
Luke Littler 6-4 Archie Self (90.72–82.09)
Harrison Leigh 6-3 Tavis Dudeney (77.08–79.12)
Cam Crabtree 6-1 Joseph Simpson (95.75–81.89)
Kaya Baysal 6-2 Jurjen van der Velde (88.32–85.61)
Jan Schmidt 6-2 Sebastian Bialecki (91.16–85.80)
Henry Coates 6-5 Dylan Slevin (90.22–88.03)
Arthur Allston 6-4 Ashton Brown (80.77–80.56)
Charlie Manby 6-5 Owen Bates (85.52–89.41)Last 32
Luke Littler 6-1 David Fidler (96.58–80.61)
Archie Self 6-2 Sean McKeon (87.16–85.04)
Tavis Dudeney 6-3 Jenson Remory (79.81–76.82)
Harrison Leigh 6-3 Jack Howarth (86.21–80.66)
Cam Crabtree 6-2 Lewis Mayes (83.44–80.50)
Joseph Simpson 6-5 Mio Varila (76.30–76.38)
Kaya Baysal 6-5 Sam Jackson (87.86–86.25)
Jurjen van der Velde 6-0 Damien Decla (88.41–74.12)
Sebastian Bialecki 6-5 Jenson Walker (85.96–89.88)
Jan Schmidt 6-5 Daniel Kortbek (87.43–85.33)
Dylan Slevin 6-4 Shane de Jong (88.59–82.64)
Henry Coates 6-3 James Buckby (95.89–84.15)
Ashton Brown 6-1 Angelo Balsamo (94.60–70.41)
Arthur Allston 6-2 Nathan Potter (93.87–86.49)
Charlie Manby 6-1 Jarod Becker (97.21–84.65)
Owen Bates 6-5 Hunter Eyles (88.23–77.62)Last 64 (selected)
Luke Littler 6-4 Lewis Cook (100.03–100.40)
Jan Schmidt 6-2 Owen Roelofs (99.97–77.53)
Henry Coates 6-4 Jamai van den Herik (97.04–91.55)
Angelo Balsamo 6-5 Keane Barry (85.73–88.84)
Sebastian Bialecki w/o Nathan Girvan
Charlie Manby 6-1 Ansh Sood (89.24–76.27)
Images: PDC
