One of the biggest Youth competitions on the WDF circuit, the International Youth Challenge Vienna, returned to the Austrian capital this past weekend for another excellent exhibition of teenage tungsten talent.
Almost 130 players from across Europe and North Africa were involved, with the top singles titles going the way of Latvia's Ralfs Laumanis and Italian ace Aurora Fochesato.
Laumanis proves star of the field as he wins Boys Challenge
Ralfs Laumanis produced the highest overall tournament average in Vienna and his consistency was rewarded with a first WDF Youth ranking title outside of his native Latvia.
Having come through his round-robin group with ease, the 16-year-old dropped just two legs in the knockout rounds to reach the final, booking his spot in the title decider with a 4-0 triumph over Denmark's Sebastian Lofgreen.
Up against Laumanis in the title decider was Czechia's Jan Ligus, who'd enjoyed a breakthrough run of his own after beating 2023 winner Yorick Hofkens in the quarters and impressive young Turk Can Suleyman Durmus in the last four.
Laumanis was ultimately too strong in the final, recording finishes of 95 and 114, as well as an average of just over 78, in a 5-2 victory.
The 180 points that Laumanis picked up for winning the event have elevated him to third in the Boys WDF rankings - could we see him make a Lakeside debut later this year?
Fochesato completes hat-trick in Vienna
Reigning WDF Girls World Champion Aurora Fochesato had achieved some of her best successes on the WDF Youth circuit in this tournament, taking top honours in the Austrian capital in both 2021 and 2022.
2023 was the 18-year-old's final year of being eligible and she made it a perfect three wins from three appearances thanks to a series of steady wins.
There was a common theme throughout the knockout rounds for Fochesato in that she ran into three German opponents in four games. All three were well beaten in the end, with the last being Kira Mertens in a final that saw Fochesato overcome some double trouble to run out a 5-2 victor.
