LUKE LITTLER might not be the only wonderkid on the darts scene for much longer as a 14-year-old sensation has started following in his footsteps.
Rising star Kaya Baysal has replicated Littler’s early success by winning a senior World Darts Federation tournament at just 14.
Kaya Baysal has followed in Luke Littler’s footsteps by winning a WDF senior tournament at just 14 years old
AlamyLittler achieved the same feat and is now one of the top players in the world[/caption]
Baysal, who only started playing three years ago at the age of 11, beat reigning champion Sybren Gijbels in the WDF Budapest Classic to earn his first senior WDF title.
The youngster toppled Gijbels 5-2 in the final, getting the better of the 27-year-old Belgian who sits some 174 PLACES ahead of him in the WDF Main Men’s Rankings.
Baysal also won the youth tournament on the same weekend.
As well as earning himself £337 in prize money, Baysal joins fellow Brit Luke Littler as a senior WDF tournament winner at age 14.
Littler achieved the same feat at the same age during the WDF Irish Open in 2021.
The Nuke has since gone on to become World Champion, bank over £1MILLION in prize money, win BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year and earn lucrative sponsorship deals with massive brands.
It’s not the first time that Baysal has followed in Littler’s footsteps though.
The Burnley thrower – who has been dubbed ‘The Burnley Bristow’ online – has already signed for the same Darts manufacturer as Littler.
Luke Littler prize money breakdown
Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner:
World Championship 2025 – £500,000
World Championship 2024 – £200,000
Grand Slam of Darts 2024 – £150,000
European Tour – £91,000
Player Championships events – £71,500
Players Championship final runner-up – £60,000
UK Open 2023 + 2024 – £17,500
World Matchplay – £10,000
World Grand Prix – £7,500
European Championship – £7,500
(Unranked) Premier League Darts – £315,000
TOTAL: £1.43 million
Darts sponsor Target Darts, who boast clientele such as Littler, Phil Taylor and Rob Cross, announced last month that they has signed Baysal to their ‘Elite 1’ team.
The Elite 1 programme helps to discover emerging young talent in darts and works alongside their management to get them up to Tour Card level.
A statement from Target Darts last month said: “At Target Darts, we believe in nurturing young talent and providing them with the support they need to thrive in the sport.
“Kaya embodies the values of dedication and sportsmanship that we hold dear, and we are excited to be a part of his journey as he continues to grow and develop.”
While Lorraine Winstanley, Head of Youth Development at Target, added: “I’m thrilled to welcome Kaya to the Elite 1. His talent is clear to see, and I’m looking forward to nurturing that talent.
“Welcome to the team, Kaya!”
Target DartsPhil Taylor and Luke Littler are both signed to Target Darts[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
