Darts prodigy beats Littler's record

A budding 14-year-old darts subordinate has been tipped for nan apical aft beating World Champion Luke Littler's grounds by becoming nan youngest ever victor of a World Darts Federation (WDF) event.

Kaya Baysal, from Burnley, who has been playing for earnestly for little than 18 months, lifted nan 2025 Budapest Classic Men's astatine nan weekend.

The WDF said he was 13 days younger than Littler was erstwhile he secured nan 2021 Irish Open win.

Kaya's coach and head Keith Brunt said location was thing stopping him from pursuing successful nan footsteps of Littler, who became nan youngest World Darts Champion successful January astatine nan property of 18.

"He has a batch of activity to do but who knows," said Mr Brunt.

Kaya hit nan reigning Budapest Classic champion, 27-year-old Belgian Sybren Gijbels, 5-2 successful nan final, aft overcoming erstwhile master circuit subordinate Krzysztof Kciuk 4-1 successful nan semi-final.

He besides won 2 younker titles successful Budapest - nan Youth Open and nan Youth Masters - and sewage to nan semi-finals successful nan pairs arena pinch his friend and chap Blackburn Darts Academy subordinate Joseph Westby, 15.

The teenager, whose favourite subordinate is Joe Cullen, has played down making history and his haul of trophies, and said he was backmost connected nan believe board.

Kaya said: "It was a awesome experience. I played immoderate bully darts against immoderate bully players."

But nan Burnley FC instrumentality added: "I've tons much difficult activity to do."

The WDF secretary-general Nick Rolls said everyone was "blown away" by Kaya's capacity successful Hungary.

"He's making accelerated advancement and his performances successful Budapest proved that if you're bully enough, you're aged enough."

He added: "Two of our erstwhile youngest-ever winners were Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler, truthful Kaya is successful fantabulous company."

The youngster is sponsored by Target Darts, which backs immoderate of nan world's apical players, including Littler.

Mr Brunt, 41, who group up nan academy successful 2017 and manages 14 players, said he believed this was nan first of galore large titles for Kaya.

"He's calm and ne'er fazed by who he is playing, has sewage his caput screwed on, and has very supportive parents."

His parents Engin and Samantha Baysal said they were "so proud" of him.

"He's very chilled astir it, and he's conscionable keen to push on," said Mrs Baysal, adding it was Kaya's uncle who sewage him into darts.

She said his walk-on opus is simply a opus - Foo Fighters Times Like These - was very typical to him arsenic it was his precocious uncle's favourite song, and a Turf Moor favourite.