Cam Crabtree, ranked world No. 68, produced a stunning 6-5 victory over Luke Littler in the semi-finals of the World Youth Championship, ending the 19-year-old's bid for another youth title. Crabtree, 23, only recently lost his part-time job at Abercrombie & Fitch because he was taking too much time off to pursue his darts career.
Crabtree's Unconventional Path to the Top
Just last year, the Londoner was balancing his emerging darts career with a retail job before deciding to commit to the sport full-time. "I worked in Abercrombie & Fitch for a bit and then they sacked me because I was away too often for darts," Crabtree revealed ahead of the 2026 World Darts Championships.
The gamble has paid off. After giving up the security of his high-street job, Crabtree secured a PDC Tour card at Q-School in January 2025 and went on to win the Development Tour, finishing ahead of Beau Greaves.
Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
That success earned him a place at the Grand Slam, where he defeated former Premier League champion Jonny Clayton and pushed Danny Noppert to a deciding leg in the group stage. Since then, he has continued to compete on the Challenge Tour and ProTour circuit, establishing himself as a gritty, heavy-scoring player.
Breaking into the world's top 70 was a landmark moment, but beating Littler - inarguably the biggest name in the sport - stands out as his greatest achievement to date.
Littler's Rare Setback
Littler's decision to return to the World Youth Championship had already attracted attention, with the teenager entering as the overwhelming favourite. However, Crabtree edged a deciding leg to complete the remarkable victory.
For Littler, it is a rare setback in an otherwise outstanding year. Before last month's World Series of Darts, he had won every major darts title in 2026. His form has tailed off slightly in recent weeks, with a quarter-final loss to Clayton at the World Series followed by a first-round exit at the World Grand Prix.
The result highlights the depth of emerging talent in darts. For Crabtree, beating Littler represents another extraordinary chapter in a rise that began with losing his day job. Getting the sack from Abercrombie & Fitch might just have been the best thing that ever happened to his professional life.
