256 players set to compete in Winmau Junior World Masters this weekend led by Mitchell Lawrie, Kaya Baysal and Gary Anderson's son Tai

Such is the strength and depth when it comes to the JDC system that 256 players will compete this weekend in the Winmau Junior World Masters, a spin off of the main Winmau World Masters which will take place this weekend in Milton Keynes.

It will be led by Kaya Baysal who is fresh off hitting a 109 average in senior competition in Romania as he continues to also play WDF. He leads the ranking table in the JDC for this event with 19 points albeit only just ahead of a certain WDF World Youth and JDC World Youth Champion in Mitchell Lawrie.

Not to mention of course being in the senior men's final this past November too losing out to Jimmy van Schie who went on to win his Tour Card this past January at Q-School.

But also among the rising stars who will be involved include Gary Anderson's son Tai. The Flying Scotsman said that he hoped to play until he was 60 in order to face off with his son on the big stage. The younger Anderson was a qualifier through his academy for the finals day which will be played at Bradmoor Farm in Haddenham on Saturday 31st January.

The on stage final takes place on Sunday 1st February in Milton Keynes and is the culmination of what players have been working towards over the past few months with qualifiers adjacent to JDC tournaments taking place for the finals day to have that chance to go to Milton Keynes in the end.

But 240 of these players like Anderson have qualified directly from academies who are involved with Winmau and with more than 200 academies now at JDC level as well as 5,600 players competition increases but also the level of these new top talents who are coming through the sport.

"We’re incredibly proud that all 256 players competing in next weekend’s Winmau Dartboard Company Ltd. Junior World Masters have come through the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) academy system, with 240 qualifying directly from Winmau-affiliated Academies," penned Nodor (who run Winmau)'s CEO Tom Brown.

"Our commitment goes far beyond our own network of 158 Academies and 4,000+ registered players. Through our partnership with the entire JDC system — now more than 200 academies and 5,600 players globally — we’re helping to grow the sport at every level.

"That same belief sits at the heart of how we build Nodor International Limited: creating the conditions where people are trusted, challenged, and supported to do their best work and realise their full potential.

"Congratulations to all the qualifiers. We can’t wait to see these exceptional players in action, culminating in the Grand Final on stage during the Winmau World Masters — a chance to perform on one of the biggest stages in darts and take another meaningful step on their journey."