Ben Schneider won the 2026 MyDartCoach Championship at the age of just 12 on Saturday in Bad Salzuflen, after competing against a field of 488 players that included several established names on the PDC circuits. Whilst this performance does not turn the German into an overnight star, it sends a clear signal: the next generation of German players is already making a strong impact, sometimes much sooner than expected.
According to the report published by DartsNews, the tournament attracted 488 entrants for its fifth edition in North Rhine-Westphalia. Among them were Tour Card holders Maximilian Czerwinski and Leon Weber, as well as Jaimy van de Weerd, number one in the PDC Next Gen rankings. Schneider finished ahead of the rest.
Ben Schneider, aged 12, triumphs in a massive draw
The format was something of a trap. The tournament began with 128 groups of three or four players, with the top two from each group qualifying for a 256-player knockout stage. In other words: it wasn’t enough to simply produce one standout performance. You had to keep going all day, get through the rounds, and then stay sharp enough when the legs started to give way.
Several expected contenders were quickly knocked out of the draw. Jaimy van de Weerd, despite being tipped as one of the logical favourites given his Next Gen status, was eliminated in the round of 64. Leon Weber had already gone out a round earlier against Leon Remde, losing 4-1 despite his status as a Tour Card holder and his solid standing on the Development Tour. This string of surprises opened up the tournament, but above all, Schneider seized the opportunity without faltering.
| Tournament | MyDartCoach Championship 2026 |
| Venue | Bad Salzuflen, Germany |
| Entries | 488 players |
| Winner | Ben Schneider, aged 12 |
| Final | Ben Schneider 6-3 Elias Jahn |
A confident semi-final, followed by a controlled final
The standout performance of the day came in the semi-finals. Schneider beat Marc Spalt 5-2, with a reported average of 87 and a leg won in 11 darts. For a 12-year-old, the figures speak for themselves. But what’s most interesting is the manner of his victory: he didn’t just capitalise on an open draw, he raised his game even further as the tournament reached its most intense stage.
The final promised an almost surreal match-up: 12-year-old Ben Schneider against 16-year-old Elias Jahn. The two finalists were 28 years old between them. Schneider got off to the better start; Jahn levelled the score at 1-1 with a leg in 16 darts, but then the younger of the two took control. Three consecutive legs, in 18, 18 and then 15 darts, put him 4-1 ahead.
Jahn tried to fight back, but Schneider maintained a sufficient lead to see it through. At 5-3, he sealed the final with a 17-dart leg to win 6-3. On a day like this, there’s no room for error: a young player might showcase his talent in a single match, but winning a tournament of this scale requires something else. Schneider demonstrated both.
Why this victory matters for the German scene
The result still needs to be kept in perspective. The MyDartCoach Championship is not a PDC ranking title, and this victory does not yet indicate what Schneider will go on to achieve at senior level. However, it does illustrate very well the depth of talent emerging amongst young German players. Between the development circuits, national tournaments, open formats and pathways to the PDC, promising young players have more and more opportunities to test themselves in proper tournaments.
That is also why this result deserves more than just a simple scoreline. In recent weeks, the spotlight on young players has already intensified, particularly with Lenny Schlueter’s first title on the Development Tour. Schneider is entering the conversation even earlier. Not as a prospect to be hyped up, but as a name to watch.
Only time will tell how far he can go. For now, the feat is rare enough to be worth noting: a 12-year-old has made his way through a tournament of 488 entrants, beaten older opponents, held his own in a tricky final and secured a victory that is bound to cause a stir in the German darts scene.
