Darts Corner’s Next Generation 2025: 10 of the best young talents in world darts

 Kaya Baysal

Born: July 2010

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 WDF Budapest Classic men’s singles champion

Kaya Baysal wrote his name into the history books in April this year when he became the youngest ever winner of a WDF men’s ranking event. The Burnley teenager defeated Belgium’s Sybren Gijbels 5-2 in the final in Budapest to claim a senior title at the age of just 14 years and 284 days - eclipsing Luke Littler’s previous-record win at the 2021 Irish Open by 13 days.

Comparisons to ‘The Nuke’ were inevitable after his record-breaking win, but the Blackburn Youth Darts Academy member appears to be taking it all in his stride. On being compared to Littler, he told BBC Radio Lancashire: “It can’t be a bad thing, can it really?” Baysal completed a youth title double on the same weekend as his senior breakthrough in Hungary, winning the Budapest Classic and Masters youth events. Since then, the 15-year-old has made seven semi-final appearances in WDF youth events to climb up to 11th in the WDF Open Youth U18 rankings.

 Archie Self

Born: November 2009

Biggest achievement (so far): 2024 WDF Boys' World Championship winner

Archie Self is one of England’s brightest young prospects and already has a trophy cabinet that is overflowing with silverware. ‘The Archer’ had a 2024 to remember, winning four titles to finish top of the JDC Advanced Tour rankings, before capping off the year by lifting the WDF Boys’ World Championship at the Lakeside.

The Thatcham teenager showed his great potential from a very early age, representing Berkshire’s youth county side at just six years old. A year later Self was competing in the men’s super league, before going on to become part of a successful England youth team that won the WDF Europe Cup and British Internationals.

Still only 15, Self has been making his mark in senior competitions this year, reaching the semi-finals of the WDF-ranked England Open in June, before winning the Berkshire Open men’s singles last month. He also won the ADC South East & London Regional Qualifier in January to earn a debut in the MODUS Super Series once he turns 16 later this year.

 Arthur Allston

Born: January 2010

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 JDC Foundation Tour Phase 1 ranking winner

Arthur Allston has emerged as one to watch out for after topping Phase 1 of this year’s JDC Foundation Tour. ‘King Arthur’ won four titles during the season to finish 12 points clear at the top of the ranking table and earn a tour card to play on the JDC Advanced Tour in 2026.

The Bradfield teen started playing darts at just seven years old, throwing darts while standing on the sofa at home, and has honed his skills while practicing at the Sudbury Youth Darts Academy and Stowmarket Youth Darts Development School. Allston has also become a key part of the Suffolk youth county team, picking up several man of the match awards during their back-to-back championship-winning seasons.

Allston followed up his JDC Foundation Tour success by winning the JDC Ireland Open last month. He dropped just two legs on his way to the final before beating Oscar Saxton 6-3 in the final to clinch the title. ‘King Arthur’ will sign off his 2025 with a trip to Gibraltar to compete in the JDC World Championship.

 Aryaveer Chokhani

Born: December 2009

Biggest achievement (so far): Reaching #1 in the IDC National Rankings (men’s)

“He’s their national champion, he’s mustard. When I say he’s good, I mean he’s good, I’m talking absolutely, magnificently good.” Those are the words of PDC Hall of Fame referee Russ Bray when giving his opinion on the next player on our list: Aryaveer Chokhani. The Calcutta teenager has quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with on the darts scene in India.

‘The Explosion’ has already won several National Ranking Championships in his home country and earlier this year went to the top of the IDC (Indian Darts Council) men’s rankings. Last weekend, Chokhani completed a clean sweep in the qualifiers in Surat, winning all three events to secure his spot in the Indian team for the JDC World Cup of Darts in Gibraltar later this year.

The 15-year-old is also set to make the trip over to the UK to represent his country in the International Darts School League Championship in November too. In the same month, Chokhani will celebrate his 16th birthday and become eligible to take part in the Indian qualifiers for the PDC World Cup of Darts and PDC World Darts Championship.

 Tergel Khurelkhuu

Born: October 2010

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 JDC Advanced Tour ranking winner

Tergel Khurelkhuu has put Mongolia firmly on the darts map after finishing top of this year’s JDC Advanced Tour. The 14-year-old’s journey to becoming the JDC number one has involved plenty of sacrifices, travelling from his home in Ulaanbaatar and spending long periods away from his family to compete on the JDC’s leading circuit.

Khurelkhuu’s first experience of the JDC circuit came in 2022 when he was part of a Mongolian team that reached the World Cup semi-finals in Gibraltar. Two years later, he won a tour card at Q-School to join the Advanced Tour, where he finished 10th on the ranking table, despite missing four events due to education reasons.

The Mongolian star made history in June this year when he became the first player from Asia to top the Advanced Tour rankings. He won two of the last three events of the season to claim top spot, finishing just a point ahead of long-time leader Ryan Branley to become the new JDC world number one.

 Mitchell Lawrie

Born: November 2010

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 WDF Europe Youth Cup boys’ singles champion

Mitchell Lawrie has grown plenty of admirers with his performances on the oche, winning countless titles across various darts circuits. One of the Renfrew schoolboy’s latest triumphs came at the WDF Europe Youth Cup in the Netherlands last month. ‘Wee Sox’ defeated Mason Teese 6-4 in the final to become the first player from Scotland to win the boys’ singles title.

Last weekend, the 14-year-old won the Belgium Open youth title, propelling him into a provisional spot for the WDF Boys’ World Championship at Lakeside at the end of the year. In 2024, Lawrie dominated the JDC Foundation Tour, bagging seven tournament wins to finish 13 points clear at the top of the ranking table.

‘Wee Sox’ wrote his name into his country’s history books again in May this year when he became the first player from Scotland to win a title on the JDC Advanced Tour. Lawrie followed up his Event 16 success by picking up the Event 17 and 19 titles to finish fourth in the rankings.

 Lex Paeshuyse

Born: September 2011

Biggest achievement (so far): 2024 JDC World Championship winner

Lex Paeshuyse is not just a star for the future, but very much a star for the present. The Belgian teenager created history last December when he became the youngest winner of the JDC World Championship at just 13 years of age. The Rijkevorsel youngster capped off a memorable 2024 by beating Daniel Stephenson 5-1 in the final, which was played on the iconic Alexandra Palace stage during the PDC World Darts Championship.

Paeshuyse’s breakthrough 2024 campaign also saw him win the WDF World Masters boys’ singles title, and qualify for the WDF Boys’ World Championship at the Lakeside, where he lost in the semi-finals to the eventual champion Archie Self.

So far in 2025, Paeshuyse has won three titles in his debut season on the JDC Advanced Tour, finishing fourth in the final rankings, and tasted success in the WDF-ranked Antwerp Open youth event last weekend. Paeshuyse was also handed a late call up to replace the injured Gerwyn Price in the Juliper Top of Darts exhibition in Belgium this summer.

 Jack Johnson

Born: January 2012

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 JDC Super 16 champion

Jack Johnson entered the record books at the start of this year when he won the JDC Super 16 title in Milton Keynes. At just 13 years old, the Orpington youngster became the youngest winner of the Super 16, a tournament which can boast Keane Barry and Luke Littler amongst its former champions.

The final was played on the Arena MK stage during the PDC World Masters, with Johnson showing no sign of nerves as he produced checkouts of 104 and 151 on his way to a 5-3 victory over Jayden Walker. The English teenager regularly competes against the adults in the London Super League and ADC Vault events in the Kent area.

Following his breakthrough triumph in Milton Keynes, ‘Jacky Boy’ has enjoyed a promising 2025 on the JDC Advanced Tour. Johnson reached three semi-finals and five quarter-finals during the 20-event season. He was also part of the inaugural JDC Junior Power League this year, where he made it through to the quarter-finals.

 Jayden Walker

Born: 2012

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 JDC Super 16 runner-up

"That was the first time I've ever met him but I'm pretty sure that's the best 12-year-old (player) I've ever seen in my life.” Those were the words the world number one Luke Humphries used to describe Jayden Walker, one of the most exciting young darts prospects who has not even become a teenager yet.

‘The Young Gun’ first caught the eye while playing in the MODUS Super Series Influencer Pairs, which he won alongside Angry Ginge. The Dorset youngster followed up that success by qualifying for the final of the JDC Super 16, which saw him take on Jack Johnson on the Arena MK stage during the PDC World Masters this past February. Walker was edged out 5-3 by Johnson in the final, but gained plenty of plaudits with a 113 checkout during the match.

Walker’s progression has continued with an impressive debut campaign on the JDC Advanced Tour this year. ‘The Young Gun’ made the final of Event 9 and appeared in a further four semi-finals during the season to finish in ninth place on the ranking table.

 Addison Hefferon

Born: June 2014

Biggest achievement (so far): 2025 JDC Foundation Tour event winner

Addison Hefferon is the youngest player on our list at just 11 years old but has already caught the eye with some impressive performances on the oche this year. ‘The Assassin’ made history in May when he became the youngest winner of a JDC Foundation Tour title, winning Event 15 a month before his 11th birthday.

The Milton Keynes schoolboy also reached three quarter-finals during his first season on the Foundation Tour, helping him to finish eighth on the ranking table and earn a tour card to play on the JDC Advanced Tour in 2026.

At the start of 2025, ‘The Assassin’ took part in JDC Q-School, where he reached the quarter-finals of Event 2 and pushed the JDC world champion Lex Paeshuyse to a last-leg decider. Hefferon has also tasted success at a senior level this year, winning local events in the ADC Vault, and is part of the Bedfordshire youth county team.