Rock returns to defend title at youth World Championship; Littler, Van Veen, Brooks & Lewy Williams among challengers

The PDC has announced a list of players already pre-qualified for the upcoming edition of the PDC Youth World Championship. The event will kick off on Sunday, Aug. 20.

All Tour Card holders up to age 24 have received an invitation. These are 11 players, including reigning junior world champion Josh Rock.

Also competing in the PDC World Youth Championship are Keane Barry, Adam Gawlas, Lewy Williams, Nathan Rafferty, Bradley Brooks, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Dylan Slevin. With three Dutchmen, Gian van Veen, Jurjen van der Velde and Owen Roelofs are among the invitees.

Nineteen International Qualifiers have also been announced. Among these, JDC World Champion Luke Littler, former BDO Youth World Champion Leighton Bennett, South African Stefan Vermaak and young women Aoife McCormack and Katie Sheldon are the best known names.

A total of 96 players will compete in the PDC Youth World Championship. The remaining 66 starting spots will be given away through the PDC Development Tour Order of Merit.

Participants PDC World Youth Championship

Tour Card holders up to 24 years of age

1. Josh Rock

2. Keane Barry

3. Adam Gawlas

4. Lewy Williams

5. Nathan Rafferty

6. Bradley Brooks

7. Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

8. Gian van Veen

9. Dylan Slevin

10. Jurjen van der Velde

11. Owen Roelofs

International Qualifiers

Jacob Turvey

Tyrell Coppini

Luke Littler

Leighton Bennett

Kayden Milne

Sowaris Rodman

Bayarjavkhlan Ankhbayar

Shusaku Nakamura

Jaein Oh

Duyane Decena

Gavin Nicoll

Connor Watt

Brayden Hall

Stefan Vermaak

Anton Östlund

Viktor Tingström

Craig Galliano

Aoife McCormack

Katie Sheldon