Warrington darts sensation Luke Littler has been eliminated from the World Youth Championship, following a 6-5 defeat by world number 68 Cam Crabtree in the semi-finals. The loss ends the 19-year-old world number one’s opportunity to hold both the senior and youth world titles concurrently.
Semi-Final Clash Details
The match saw a resilient performance from both players. Crabtree, aged 23, took an early 2-0 lead against the 2023 World Youth Champion. Littler then staged a comeback, securing a magnificent 164 checkout and back-to-back 14-darters to move ahead 3-2. However, Crabtree remained undeterred, hitting 92 and 100 finishes to regain control, taking a 5-4 lead. Littler forced a last-leg decider with a terrific 117 checkout, but Crabtree ultimately prevailed with a 16-dart hold on double six, achieving a 97.91 average, according to Sky Sports. Crabtree will now face Germany’s Jan Schmidt in the final on 29 November, scheduled for finals day at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
Littler’s Tournament Journey and Recent Form
Prior to his semi-final exit, Littler had a strong run in the tournament, achieving three wins in the group stage. He went on to defeat Lewis Cook, overcoming a 3-0 deficit, and secured victories against David Fidler (6-1) and Archie Self (6-4). His quarter-final match saw him defeat Harrison Leigh 6-2 to advance to the final four.
This defeat marks the latest in a series of unexpected exits for Littler. He was previously knocked out of the World Grand Prix in the first round by Luke Woodhouse and lost to Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals of the World Series of Darts finals. The BBC reported that Littler’s semi-final loss to Crabtree was his second successive exit at that stage, having previously lost to Beau Greaves in 2025. Additionally, the BBC noted that Littler has won successive full World Championships and secured the youth title as a 16-year-old in 2023.
Analysis and Future Outlook
Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle questioned Littler’s participation in the World Youth Championship, stating he didn’t see “the value time-wise” given Littler’s busy schedule. Mardle also commented on Littler’s recent performances, suggesting he has been “underperforming right now” but noting that “we’re humans, we’re not robots, we’re not automatons, we do have off days as well.”
Littler, who is currently ranked 126th in the Players Championship order of merit, has not yet qualified for the Players Championship Finals, where only the top 64 players secure a spot. Four Players Championship events remain, though two of these are in Den Bosch, Netherlands, where Littler recently withdrew from events after experiencing boos from crowds. Despite this recent exit, Littler could still enter the World Youth Championship up to four more times, as the tournament is open to players aged 23 or under at the start of the season. The tournament itself offers £60,000 in prize money.
For Manchester and North West readers, the performance of Warrington’s Luke Littler continues to be a key focus in the darts world, with his recent results sparking discussion about his form and future strategy. His remaining eligibility for the youth tournament and ongoing efforts to qualify for other major events will be closely watched.
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