REIGNING champion Dimitri Van den Bergh will meet Martin Schindler in the final of the 2018 PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship after the pair won through Monday's early rounds in Wigan.
Van den Bergh overcame Josh Payne in 2017 to take the £10,000 title, and a spirited title defence has seen him secure his place in the final.
He will return to the stage at the Butlin's Minehead Resort on November 25 against German prospect Schindler, who powered his way into the decider during a competitive Last 96 in Wigan.
The expanded £60,000 tournament saw a field of international qualifiers join players from the 2018 PDC Unicorn Development Tour Order of Merit to compete, with play initially in a round-robin group stage.
World Matchplay semi-finalist Jeffrey de Zwaan was the highest-profile player to be defeated in the group stage, alongside former finalist Rowby-John Rodriguez and Chinese World Cup ace Xiaochen Zong.
Top seed Luke Humphries, the Development Tour Order of Merit winner, was seen off by Callan Rydz in the last 32.
Former World Youth Championship finalist Berry van Peer, Canada's Dawson Murschell and JDC Junior World Champion Rusty-Jake Rodriguez also suffered last 32 defeats.
However, Van den Bergh overcame Melvin de Fijter 6-3, then saw off Thomas Lovely 6-3, Christian Bunse 6-3 and Ted Evetts 6-1 to book his place in the final.
Schindler whitewashed both Rhys Hayden and Geert Nentjes in the latter stages, and also saw off Bradley Kirk 6-4 and Rydz 6-3 to reach the final.
The decider will be played at the Butlin's Minehead Resort on Sunday November 25 between the semi-finals and final of the Players Championship Finals, and broadcast live on ITV4.
Alongside prize money of £10,000 for the winner and £5,000 for the runner-up, both Van den Bergh and Schindler are also in line to qualify for the 2019 Grand Slam of Darts.
PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship
Group One
(1) Luke Humphries
Carl Batchelor
Ryan Lynch
Carl Batchelor 5-0 Ryan Lynch
Luke Humphries 5-1 Ryan Lynch
Luke Humphries 5-3 Carl Batchelor
Qualifier: Luke Humphries
Group Two
(32) Joe Davis
Callan Rydz
Logan Crooks
Callan Rydz 5-3 Logan Crooks
Logan Crooks 5-3 Joe Davis
Callan Rydz 5-4 Joe Davis
Qualifier: Callan Rydz
Group Three
(16) Rob Hewson
Jarvis Bautista
Paolo Nebrida
Paolo Nebrida 5-2 Jarvis Bautista
Rob Hewson 5-0 Jarvis Bautista
Paolo Nebrida 5-4 Rob Hewson
Qualifier: Paolo Nebrida
Group Four
(17) Bradley Brooks
Tom Lonsdale
Hampus Norrstrom
Tom Lonsdale 5-4 Hampus Norrstrom
Bradley Brooks 5-2 Hampus Norrstrom
Tom Lonsdale 5-3 Bradley Brooks
Qualifier: Tom Lonsdale
Group Five
(8) Ryan Meikle
Alexander Faddel
Greg Ritchie
Greg Ritchie 5-0 Alexander Faddel
Ryan Meikle 5-1 Alexander Faddel
Ryan Meikle 5-2 Greg Ritchie
Qualifier: Ryan Meikle
Group Six
(25) Tommy Wilson
Adam Paxton
Sebastian Pohl
Adam Paxton 5-3 Sebastian Pohl
Tommy Wilson 5-0 Sebastian Pohl
Adam Paxton 5-4 Tommy Wilson
Qualifier: Adam Paxton
Group Seven
(9) Niels Zonneveld
Harry Ward
Fred Box
Harry Ward 5-2 Fred Box
Niels Zonneveld 5-2 Fred Box
Harry Ward 5-1 Niels Zonneveld
Qualifier: Harry Ward
Group Eight
(24) Rhys Griffin
Xiaochen Zong
Sven Hesse
Xiaochen Zong 5-1 Sven Hesse
Rhys Griffin 5-1 Sven Hesse
Rhys Griffin 5-4 Xiaochen Zong
Qualifier: Rhys Griffin
Group Nine
(5) Martin Schindler
Lukas Wennig
Declan Cox
Lukas Wennig 5-2 Declan Cox
Martin Schindler 5-1 Declan Cox
Martin Schindler 5-3 Lukas Wennig
Qualifier: Martin Schinder
Group Ten
(28) Rhys Hayden
Jack Faragher
Aaron Holdstock
Aaron Holdstock 5-2 Jack Faragher
Rhys Hayden 5-1 Jack Faragher
Rhys Hayden 5-1 Aaron Holdstock
Qualifier: Rhys Hayden
Group 11
(12) Nathan Rafferty
Nico Schlund
Conor Mayes
Nico Schlund 5-2 Conor Mayes
Conor Mayes 5-3 Nathan Rafferty
Nico Schlund 5-0 Nathan Rafferty
Qualifier: Nico Schlund
Group 12
(21) Bradley Kirk
Keane Barry
Sven Groen
Sven Groen 5-1 Keane Barry
Bradley Kirk 5-3 Keane Barry
Bradley Kirk 5-3 Sven Groen
Qualifier: Bradley Kirk
Group 13
(4) Geert Nentjes
Callum Matthews
Steve Fitzpatrick
Steve Fitzpatrick 5-3 Callum Matthews
Geert Nentjes 5-0 Callum Matthews
Geert Nentjes 5-1 Steve Fitzpatrick
Qualifier: Geert Nentjes
Group 14
(29) Brian Raman
John Brown
Mats Gies
Mats Gies 5-2 John Brown
Brian Raman 5-2 John Brown
Brian Raman 5-3 Mats Gies
Qualifier: Brian Raman
Group 15
(13) Berry van Peer
Jesus Macias
Danny Key
Danny Key 5-0 Jesus Macias
Berry van Peer 5-0 Jesus Macias
Berry van Peer 5-2 Danny Key
Qualifier: Berry van Peer
Group 16
(20) George Gardner
William Borland
Justin Smith
William Borland 5-4 Justin Smith
Justin Smith 5-1 George Gardner
George Gardner 5-1 William Borland
Qualifier: Justin Smith
Group 17
(2) Dimitri Van den Bergh
Patrik Kovacs
Keelan Kay
Keelan Kay 5-4 Patrik Kovacs
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-4 Patrik Kovacs
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Keelan Kay
Qualifier: Dimitri Van den Bergh
Group 18
(31) Melvin de Fijter
Jaikob Selby-Rivas
Jack Vincent
Jack Vincent 5-3 Jaikob Selby-Rivas
Melvin de Fijter 5-2 Jaikob Selby-Rivas
Melvin de Fijter 5-2 Jack Vincent
Qualifier: Melvin de Fijter
Group 19
(15) Wessel Nijman
Sean Coohill
Thomas Lovely
Thomas Lovely 5-3 Sean Coohill
Sean Coohill 5-4 Wessel Nijman
Thomas Lovely 5-3 Wessel Nijman
Qualifier: Thomas Lovely
Group 20
(18) Jimmy Hendriks
Jack Main
Shane McGuirk
Jack Main 5-1 Shane McGuirk
Jimmy Hendriks 5-3 Shane McGuirk
Jack Main 5-3 Jimmy Hendriks
Qualifier: Jack Main
Group 21
(7) Rowby-John Rodriguez
Hendrik Eggermann
Mike van Duivenbode
Mike van Duivenbode 5-0 Hendrik Eggermann
Rowby-John Rodriguez 5-1 Hendrik Eggermann
Mike van Duivenbode 5-3 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Qualifier: Mike van Duivenbode
Group 22
(26) Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Maxim Aldoshin
Josh McCarthy
Maxim Aldoshin 5-3 Josh McCarthy
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 5-1 Josh McCarthy
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 5-1 Maxim Aldoshin
Qualifier: Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Group 23
(10) Christian Bunse
Andrew Davidson
Levy Frauenfelder
Levy Frauenfelder 5-3 Andrew Davidson
Christian Bunse 5-3 Andrew Davidson
Christian Bunse 5-3 Levy Frauenfelder
Qualifier: Christian Bunse
Group 24
(23) Mike De Decker
Nico Blum
Adam Watson
Nico Blum 5-4 Adam Watson
Mike De Decker 5-1 Adam Watson
Mike De Decker 5-1 Nico Blum
Qualifier: Mike De Decker
Group 25
(6) George Killington
Mark Baxter
Christopher Haensch
Mark Baxter 5-3 Christopher Haensch
George Killington 5-0 Christopher Haensch
Mark Baxter 5-4 George Killington
Qualifier: Mark Baxter
Group 26
(27) Lee Budgen
Danny van Trijp
Jeffrey de Zwaan
Jeffrey de Zwaan 5-2 Danny van Trijp
Lee Budgen 5-0 Danny van Trijp
Lee Budgen 5-3 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Qualifier: Lee Budgen
Group 27
(11) Jarred Cole
Maikel Verberk
Patrick van den Boogaard
Maikel Verberk 5-3 Patrick van den Boogaard
Jarred Cole 5-3 Patrick van den Boogaard
Jarred Cole 5-2 Maikel Verberk
Qualifier: Jarred Cole
Group 28
(22) Justin van Tergouw
Callum Loose
Dean Finn
Callum Loose 5-4 Dean Finn
Justin van Tergouw 5-3 Dean Finn
Justin van Tergouw 5-0 Callum Loose
Qualifier: Justin van Tergouw
Group 29
(3) Ted Evetts
Kevin Doets
Jack Male
Kevin Doets 5-4 Jack Male
Ted Evetts 5-0 Jack Male
Ted Evetts 5-2 Kevin Doets
Qualifier: Ted Evetts
Group 30
(30) Scott Dale
Nicolai Rasmussen
Jordan Boyce
Jordan Boyce 5-2 Nicolai Rasmussen
Scott Dale 5-2 Nicolai Rasmussen
Scott Dale 5-0 Jordan Boyce
Qualifier: Scott Dale
Group 31
(14) Kenny Neyens
Scott Jackson
Lewis Pride
Scott Jackson 5-1 Lewis Pride
Kenny Neyens 5-3 Lewis Pride
Scott Jackson 5-3 Kenny Neyens
Qualifier: Scott Jackson
Group 32
(19) Dawson Murschell
Tomoya Goto
Dylan Powell
Tomoya Goto 5-3 Dylan Powell
Dawson Murschell 5-2 Dylan Powell
Dawson Murschell 5-2 Tomoya Goto
Qualifier: Dawson Murschell
Last 32
Callan Rydz 6-2 Luke Humphries
Paolo Nebrida 6-4 Tom Lonsdale
Ryan Meikle 6-2 Adam Paxton
Harry Ward 6-3 Rhys Griffin
Martin Schindler 6-0 Rhys Hayden
Bradley Kirk 6-2 Nico Schlund
Geert Nentjes 6-4 Brian Raman
Justin Smith 6-1 Berry van Peer
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Melvin de Fijter
Thomas Lovely 6-1 Jack Main
Mike van Duivenbode 6-4 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Christian Bunse 6-4 Mike De Decker
Lee Budgen 6-4 Mark Baxter
Jarred Cole 6-3 Justin van Tergouw
Ted Evetts 6-1 Scott Dale
Scott Jackson 6-4 Dawson Murschell
Last 16
Callan Rydz 6-2 Paolo Nebrida
Harry Ward 6-3 Ryan Meikle
Martin Schindler 6-4 Bradley Kirk
Geert Nentjes 6-2 Justin Smith
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-2 Thomas Lovely
Christian Bunse 6-5 Mike van Duivenbode
Lee Budgen 6-3 Jarred Cole
Ted Evetts 6-0 Scott Jackson
Quarter-Finals
Callan Rydz 6-5 Harry Ward
Martin Schindler 6-0 Geert Nentjes
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Christian Bunse
Ted Evetts 6-2 Lee Budgen
Semi-Finals
Martin Schindler 6-3 Callan Rydz
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-1 Ted Evetts
Final
Martin Schindler v Dimitri Van den Bergh
To be played Sunday November 25 at Butlin's Minehead Resort
Best of 11 legs
Format
Group Matches: Best of nine legs. Two points awarded for a win. The winner of each group will progress to the last 32. In the event of a tie, players are separated by head-to-head, or in the case of a three-way tie by leg difference, then head-to-head and, if needed, a three-way nine-dart shoot-out.
Games will be played in the following order
Player Two v Player Three
Seeded Player v Loser Game One
Seeded Player v Winner Game One
Knockout Stage: Best of 11 legs.
Prize Fund
Winner: £10,000 + qualifying place in 2018/2019 World Championship & 2019 Grand Slam of Darts
Runner-Up: £5,000 + qualifying place in 2019 Grand Slam of Darts
Semi-Finalists: £2,500
Quarter-Finalists: £1,600
Last 16: £1,000
Last 32: £500
Second in Group: £300
Third in Group: £250
Total: £60,000