The PDC World Youth Championship to expand to 96 players

[MancheStar]

THE PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship is to expand to 96 players with a prize fund of £60,000 this year, providing greater opportunities for young players from across the globe.

In a move which mirrors the expansion of the William Hill World Darts Championship, an additional 32 places will be made available as the tournament grows to a new level.

There will be up to 72 qualifiers from the PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit, alongside any age-qualified players inside the top 32 on the main PDC Order of Merit.

They will be joined by 24 international qualifiers from across the world to compete in the early rounds on Monday November 5 at Wigan's Robin Park Tennis Centre.

The first round will be a group stage featuring 32 groups of three players, with the group winners progressing to compete in a knockout format from the last 32 onwards.

The final will then take place on Sunday November 25 at the Butlin's Minehead Resort between the semi-finals and final of the Players Championship Finals, live on ITV4.

An additional £10,000 has been added to the prize fund for the World Youth Championship, with the winner also securing a place in the 2018/2019 World Championship and the finalists qualifying for the 2019 Grand Slam of Darts.

It's wonderful that we can expand the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship and this is a huge boost for young players around the world," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"This tournament has grown in stature since being introduced in 2010-11 and is a brilliant opportunity for players to make their name – with Michael Smith being the obvious example of a former World Youth Champion who is now winning titles at the highest level.

"Not only does our expanded field reward more players who compete on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour throughout the year, but it also enables us to provide further chances for qualifiers worldwide.

"With the World Series of Darts continuing to grow alongside our affiliated tours across the globe, we're seeing young players emerging now with the ability and ambition to get to the top.

"Expanding the World Youth Championship in this way is another step for all young players and we're looking forward to a great championship in November, both with the early rounds and the final in Minehead."

Unicorn Darts Managing Director Edward Lowy said: "Supporting the future of darts has been in our DNA for over 80 years and we are delighted and proud to be working with the PDC on expanding the Development Tour and World Youth Championship to help develop the darting stars of tomorrow.

"You only need to look at how Dimitri Van den Bergh has developed since winning last year to see how important this tournament is."

Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh will defend his title in November, having claimed the honour in 2017 by defeating Josh Payne in the final.

Canada's Dawson Murschell has qualified as the best-performing eligible player at the recent William Hill North American Championship.

2016 World Youth Champion Corey Cadby is joined by Steve Fitzpatrick in qualifying from the DartPlayers Australia rankings, while Kiwi talent Tahuna Irwin won the DartPlayers New Zealand qualifier.

German duo Sven Hesse and Lukas Wenig are further qualifiers, alongside Gibraltar's Jarvis Bautista, America's Sean Coohill, Canada's Logan Crooks and South Africa's Alexander Faddel.

Further qualifying events will be held in the USA, Canada, China, Asia, Russia, Ireland, across Europe and through PDC Nordic and Baltic, while two players will represent the Junior Darts Corporation.

A further two weekends remain on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour for players to qualify, on September 22-23 in Peterborough and November 3-4 in Wigan.

Prize Fund

Winner £10,000
Place in 2018/2019 World Championship
Place in 2019 Grand Slam of Darts
Runner-Up £5,000
Place in 2019 Grand Slam of Darts
Semi-Finalists £2,500
Quarter-Finalists £1,600
Last 16 £1,000
Last 32 £500
Second in Group £300
Third in Group £250
Total £60,000
Format
The group stage will be the best of nine legs per match, with two points awarded per win.
In the event of a tie, players are separated by head-to-head, or in the case of a three-way tie by leg difference, then head-to-head and, if needed, a three-way nine-dart shoot-out.
The knockout stage will be the best of 11 legs.

Early Rounds: November 5 2018 – Robin Park Tennis Centre
Final: November 25 2018 – Butlin’s Minehead Resort

Field
Invitations will be issued to the following players:
Players aged 23 or under from the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit
Up to 72 players from the final 2018 PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit
24 Invitations, as follows:
USA, Canada, Best-performing player from 2018 North American Championship, China, Asia x2, Australia x2, New Zealand, Nordic & Baltic x2, Germany x2, Gibraltar, Ireland x2, Russia, JDC x2, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, South Africa. Once place TBC.

[devosteve]

I like the idea of the group stage. At least you get 2 games.

Pdc going from strength to strength.

[MancheStar]

I like the idea of the group stage. At least you get 2 games.

Pdc going from strength to strength.

I think the 2 games is a good idea gives them a chance to get at least a couple of matches especially the international players after travelling all that distance.

[The Jolly Man]

Great news for the young players coming through. Still gives players that haven't been to the development tour this year an opportunity to qualify.

Pre selecting Murschell is a bit strange as he would come through the development tour any way. Could have given the space to the top guy from the CDC rankings.

[Zapp Brannigan]

So the rumor is the "one more place TBD" is Beau

[The Jolly Man]

So the rumor is the "one more place TBD" is Beau

I’d believe it if she was 16. Think the JDC players are still on the restriction that players are over 16

[The Jolly Man]

Would like to see the PDC guarantee any of the World Cup players who are eligible qualify. Think that would be the Chinese lad, one from Czech Rep and Hopp.

Think the space left over will be for Hopp should he not qualify from another route as he already seems to have missed the German qualifier

[TheSandman]

No mention of holiday vouchers to a run down caravan park

[ssjsa]

THE international qualifiers have been finalised for the 2018 PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship.

The event has expanded to 96 players with a prize fund of £60,000 this year, providing greater opportunities for young players from across the globe.

There will be up to 73 qualifiers from the PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit, alongside any age-qualified players inside the top 32 on the main PDC Order of Merit.

They will be joined by 23 international qualifiers from across the world to compete in the early rounds on Monday November 5 at Wigan's Robin Park Tennis Centre.

Heading the latest list of the final five international qualifiers is Central Europe's Mats Gies, who also made his European Tour debut in 2018.

Gies is joined in the World Youth Championship by Tomoya Goto (Japan), Patrik Kovacs (Eastern Europe), Jesús Ángel Vicente Macías (Southern Europe) and Alexander Faddel (South Africa).

The early rounds of the tournament will be held in Wigan on November 5, with Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh defending his title, having claimed the honour in 2017 by defeating Josh Payne in the final.

Also among the players to have secured qualification is Canada's Dawson Murschell has qualified as the best-performing eligible player at the William Hill North American Championship.

Lynch joins Steve Fitzpatrick in qualifying from the DartPlayers Australia rankings, while Kiwi talent Tahuna Irwin won the DartPlayers New Zealand qualifier.

German duo Sven Hesse and Lukas Wenig are further qualifiers, alongside Gibraltar's Jarvis Bautista, America's Sean Coohill, Canada's Logan Crooks and South Africa's Alexander Faddel.

The two Junior Darts Corporation representatives will be 2017 Junior World Champion Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and 2017 Junior European Championship winner Bradley Brooks.

One further weekend remains on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour for players to qualify, on November 3-4 in Wigan, with an extra place now allocated to mean that up to 73 players can qualify via that route.

The first round will be a group stage featuring 32 groups of three players, with the group winners progressing to compete in a knockout format from the last 32 onwards.

The final will then take place on Sunday November 25 at the Butlin's Minehead Resort between the semi-finals and final of the Players Championship Finals, live on ITV4.

An additional £10,000 has been added to the prize fund for the World Youth Championship, with the winner also securing a place in the 2018/2019 World Championship and the finalists qualifying for the 2019 Grand Slam of Darts.

Prize Fund
Winner - £10,000, Place in 2018/2019 World Championship, Place in 2019 Grand Slam of Darts
Runner-Up - £5,000, Place in 2019 Grand Slam of Darts
Semi-Finalists - £2,500
Quarter-Finalists - £1,600
Last 16 - £1,000
Last 32 - £500
Second in Group - £300
Third in Group - £250
Total - £60,000

Early Rounds: November 5 2018 – Robin Park Tennis Centre
Format
The group stage will be the best of nine legs per match, with two points awarded per win.
In the event of a tie, players are separated by head-to-head, or in the case of a three-way tie by leg difference, then head-to-head and, if needed, a three-way nine-dart shoot-out.
The knockout stage will be the best of 11 legs.

Final: November 25 2018 – Butlin’s Minehead Resort

Field
Invitations will be issued to the following players:
Players aged 23 or under from the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit
Up to 73 players from the final 2018 PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit
24 Invitations, as follows:
USA, Canada, Best-performing player from 2018 North American Championship, China, Asia x2, Australia x2, New Zealand, Nordic & Baltic x2, Germany x2, Gibraltar, Ireland x2, Russia, JDC x2, Central Europe, Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, South Africa.

International Qualifiers:
Tomoya Goto (Japan)
Mats Gies (Central Europe)
Patrik Kovacs (Eastern Europe)
Jesús Ángel Vicente Macías (Southern Europe)
Alexander Faddel (South Africa)
Sean Coohill (USA)
Logan Crooks (Canada)
Dawson Murschell (NADC Best Age-Qualified Player)
Xiaochen Zong (China)
Paolo Nebrida (Asia)
Steve Fitzpatrick (Australia)
Ryan Lynch (Australia)
Tahuna Irwin (New Zealand)
Nicolai Rasmussen (Nordic & Baltic)
Hampus Norrstrom (Nordic & Baltic)
Sven Hesse (Germany)
Lukas Wenig (Germany)
Jarvis Bautista (Gibraltar)
Jack Faragher (Ireland/NI)
Keane Barry (Ireland/NI)
Maxim Aldoshin (Russia)
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (JDC)
Bradley Brooks (JDC)

[ssjsa]

Another Antipodean with issues getting into the UK.

[malcy93]

Complete idiot.

Everyone know that if you need a visa to a country the immigration authorities need proof at time of entry you have a return plane ticket plus proof of where you will be living during stay (hotel booking or confirmation staying with someone) and enough money for food etc.

Just turning up on a single ticket makes it obvious you want to stay here illegally. How did he ever expect to get home ?

[ChrisW]

Wonder if his plan was to stay until ally pally.

[The Jolly Man]

Wonder if his plan was to stay until ally pally.

Was thinking that. Then stay for q-school and depending on how you get you keep staying. Etc etc.

[The Jolly Man]

But why does a player like Irwin have management. Some of these guys need to start taking responsibility themselves. Clearly to many people out there trying to jump on kids and make money from them without researching what you have to do properly.

The whole Cadby situation has become a farce as well.

[malcy93]

Could just have bought a flexible ticket but given they are massively expensive vs a non refundable one possibly didn’t have the money.

As I also posted was obviously looking to overstay the probable tourist visa he had, so he could play in all the tournaments quoted.

[markymark]

But why does a player like Irwin have management. Some of these guys need to start taking responsibility themselves. Clearly to many people out there trying to jump on kids and make money from them without researching what you have to do properly.

The whole Cadby situation has become a farce as well.

I'm very sure there are some very good managers out there who make life a lot easy for their players, but how could you ever think going without a return ticket booked would be a good idea?

[Ginge]

Another Antipodean with issues getting into the UK.

All the issues of his own doing.

[TheSandman]

Not as bad as the other fella that failed to disclose his previous convictions on his visa application. Then misused the visa. Now paying the price for it.

[malcy93]

This was just incompetence by player and manager. Should not have an issue returning provided has return ticket and proof of accommodation.

[The Jolly Man]

1 Luke Humphries £8,000
1 Dimitri Van den Bergh £8,000
3 Ted Evetts £7,800
4 Geert Nentjes £6,350
5 Martin Schindler £5,950
6 George Killington £5,300
7 Rowby-John Rodriguez £5,200
8 Ryan Meikle £4,450
9 Niels Zonneveld £4,400
10 Christian Bunse £4,350
11 Jarred Cole £4,150
12 Nathan Rafferty £3,750
13 Berry van Peer £3,650
14 Kenny Neyens £3,400
15 Rob Hewson £3,300
15 Wessel Nijman £3,300
17 Bradley Brooks £3,000
18 Jimmy Hendriks £2,800
18 Dawson Murschell £2,800
20 George Gardner £2,650
21 Bradley Kirk £2,400
21 Justin van Tergouw £2,400
23 Mike De Decker £2,350
23 Rhys Griffin £2,350
25 Tommy Wilson £2,250
26 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez £2,100
26 Lee Budgen £2,100
28 Rhys Hayden £2,050
29 Brian Raman £2,000
29 Scott Dale £2,000
29 Melvin de Fijter £2,000
29 Joe Davis £2,000
33 William Borland £1,900
33 Josh McCarthy £1,900
35 Callan Rydz £1,800
36 Harry Ward £1,750
37 Danny Van Trijp £1,700
37 Jordan Boyce £1,700
39 Jeffrey de Zwaan £1,650
40 Tom Lonsdale £1,600
41 Shane McGuirk £1,500
41 Lewis Pride £1,500
41 Greg Ritchie £1,500
44 Mike van Duivenbode £1,350
45 Kevin Doets £1,250
45 Nico Blum £1,250
47 Patrick van den Boogaard £1,200
48 Dean Finn £1,150
49 Callum Loose £1,050
50 John Brown £1,000
50 Sven Groen £1,000
50 Mark Baxter £1,000
50 Maikel Verberk £1,000
54 Thomas Lovely £950
54 Carl Batchelor £950
56 Justin Smith £900
57 Hendrik Eggermann £850
57 Jaikob Selby-Rivas £850
59 Dylan Powell £800
60 Scott Jackson £750
60 Christopher Haensch £750
60 Jakob Kelly £750
63 Fred Box £700
64 Jack Male £650
64 Nico Schlund £650
64 Adam Paxton £650
64 Danny Key £650
68 Conor Mayes £600
68 Keelan Kay £600
68 Sebastian Pohl £600
68 Jack Vincent £600
68 Adam Watson £600
68 Andrew Davidson £600
68 Declan Cox £600
75 Jack Main £550
75 Aaron Holdstock £550
75 Callum Matthews £550