“A lot of doors open when you reach 16” – JDC prodigy Kaya Baysal ready to make the most of his opportunities as landmark birthday nears

In darts, turning 16 changes everything. For Kaya Baysal, that moment is now within touching distance.

“A lot of doors open when you reach 16,” Baysal said recently in conversation with The Burnley Express, already looking ahead to what the next phase of his career could bring. “I’m going to make the most of the opportunities.”

The timing matters. Still only 15, the English teenager has already built a résumé many older players would envy.

But eligibility for the men’s game will soon widen his competitive landscape dramatically, offering access to senior events that were previously off limits.

Baysal’s acceleration over the past 18 months has been striking. In 2025, he became the youngest ever winner of a senior World Darts Federation event when he captured the Budapest Classic Men’s title, edging past the previous age benchmark by a matter of days. It was not just a youth success story, but a statement that he could compete against seasoned opposition.

That breakthrough came alongside continued dominance on the development scene, including victory at the JDC Winmau Junior World Masters, a title that further cemented his standing among the sport’s most promising young talents.

His progression has not been accidental. “It all began when I was about seven or eight-years-old,” he explained. “My uncle got me my first ever set of darts. Before I took it seriously I’d have a two-hour chuck maybe once a month.”

Everything changed in 2024. “Then in 2024 I thought I’d have another go. I started practicing every day and finally joined a pub league team.”

From there, his rise was swift. Structured coaching followed, regular competition sharpened his consistency, and an Advanced Tour Card on the Junior Darts Corporation circuit opened the door to elite under-18 competition.

With rapid success has come growing attention. Comparisons to other teenage trailblazers are inevitable, but Baysal’s tone remains measured. “I’m doing a lot of travelling, which I’d never done before,” he said. “It’s amazing I get the chance to play my favourite hobby around the world.”

Despite international titles and increasing recognition, he has deliberately kept one foot firmly rooted in familiar surroundings. Offers have come and gone, yet loyalty has remained.

“I’ve had opportunities to join other teams in the Burnley league, but I’ve stuck with the Craven because they’re the lads that keep me grounded," he says. “It’s good to get a break away from competitive darts, just to chill out.”

That balance between ambition and stability may prove crucial as expectation rises. School life continues alongside tournament schedules, and his next steps off the oche are already planned, with further education options aligned around his sporting ambitions.

“I’m really lucky that I have a lot of local sponsors who I know really well and understand me,” he added. “It’s everything I could ask for.”

The significance of turning 16 in darts is structural rather than symbolic. Eligibility rules shift. Senior ranking pathways expand. Invitations and open-entry events that were previously unavailable suddenly come into play.

For Baysal, that could mean opportunities such as the MODUS Super Series, a platform that has fast-tracked emerging talent into wider recognition. It also opens the possibility of entering PDC Q-School, the gateway to earning a PDC Tour Card and stepping fully into the professional game.

While immediate participation in every route will depend on timing and decisions around development, the landscape changes overnight at 16. The pathway to the ProTour becomes visible rather than theoretical.

Baysal has already tasted senior success in WDF competition. The question now is not whether he belongs at that level, but how quickly he can adapt once the calendar fully opens up. “Obviously, it’s exciting,” he said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for it.”

For a player who only began practising daily two years ago, the speed of progression has been remarkable. Yet there is no sense of rush in his words, only readiness.

Doors are about to open. And if his trajectory so far is any indication, Kaya Baysal intends to walk through them quickly.