Global Qualifiers Seal World Youth Spots

THE field of international qualifiers for the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship have been confirmed ahead of October's early rounds in Wigan.

The tournament will see Germany's Max Hopp defend the title he won last year, with the Last 64 playing down to the semi-finals on Sunday October 16 before the final is held on Sunday November 27 on stage at the Butlins Minehead Resort during the Cash Converters Players Championship Finals.

A field of 16 international players will join qualifiers from the PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit as well as any age-qualified players from the top 32 of the main PDC Order of Merit, currently Benito van de Pas.

The international qualifiers include Australia's Corey Cadby, who has enjoyed a fine year on the DPA Australian Grand Prix circuit with seven event victories as well as last week's memorable defeat of Phil Taylor in the TABtouch Perth Darts Masters.

Robbie King also qualified from Australia, while Avery Bozzetti came through the USA qualifier and Chris Coulter won through the Canadian knockout.

Xiaochen Zong defeated Luming Zhao in the final of the Chinese qualifier in Qingdao in July, with 32 players competing in the event, which ran alongside the emerging circuit of ranking events in China which has been launched this year.

Dongiu Lee won through the South Korean qualifier to become his country's first representative in the World Youth Championship, while Clayton Otton came through the Gibraltar knockout in May and Finland's Aaron Knox was the Scandinavian qualifier following his success in the SDC's qualifiers.

The series of European qualifiers also includes a trio of players with European Tour experience - Germany's Fabian Herz and Martin Schindler and Austria's Nico Mandl - while Spain's Jamie Nunez and Dutch pair Kay Smeets and Justin van Tergouw also secured places in Wigan.

The final two international qualifiers will be confirmed following September's knockout in Tramore.

Players on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour still have seven tournaments, each worth £10,000 in prize money, to secure qualifying places in the World Youth Championship.

Events 13-16 will take place on September 3-4 in Wigan, with Events 17-19 on October 15-16 in Wigan.

Click here for PDC Unicorn Development Tour entry information.

Click here for the latest PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit.

PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship
International Qualifiers