For years, darts has suffered from the ridiculous stereotype that it’s a game played exclusively by blokes called Gaz, drinking warm lager while arguing over whose turn it is to fetch the chips.
Thankfully, reality has been quietly tapping that outdated opinion on the shoulder before launching it straight into the nearest skip.
The girls’ game is absolutely booming.
So much so that the Junior Darts Corporation has decided it isn’t enough to simply watch the talent emerge – they’re giving it another stage to shine on with the launch of the brand-new Girls Super 16.
And before anyone asks, no, there aren’t actually only sixteen girls involved. Sporting events have been confusing people with names for decades. The Premier League has more than one premier team, the Champions League regularly contains clubs that didn’t win anything, and the World Series seems to visit everywhere except the world. You’ll cope.
This latest addition to the JDC calendar comes after what can only be described as a phenomenal twelve months for the girls’ game.
Participation in the JDC Girls Series has smashed previous records, the 2025 Girls World Championship proved the future is in very safe hands, and there’s now enough emerging talent to make talent scouts’ notebooks resemble the scribbles of someone trying to write during an earthquake.
Rather than sitting back and congratulating themselves with a biscuit and a cup of tea, the JDC has instead decided to create another major opportunity for the country’s brightest young female players.
Quite right too.
The top 32 girls across the combined Seasons 4 & 5 Academy Order of Merit will qualify for an exclusive Finals Weekend, where they’ll battle it out for the honour of becoming the very first Girls Super 16 Champion. That will be some photo for the family mantlepiece.
Qualification won’t cost players a penny either.
That’s right. No hidden charges. No mysterious booking fees. No “convenience charge” for the inconvenience of paying. If you’ve earned your place through your performances in the academy system, you’re in. Refreshingly simple in a world where buying two cinema tickets nowadays requires re-mortgaging your house.
There’ll also be prize money and a championship trophy waiting at the end, which is considerably better than receiving one of those tiny participation medals that look like they came free inside a cereal box. Nah. The JDC Do things in style.
The format itself should produce plenty of drama.
The 32 qualifiers will spend the first day battling through round-robin groups before the knockout stages take over on day two to crown the inaugural champion.
In other words, there’ll be nowhere to hide.
One poor visit can be recovered. One bad leg isn’t the end of the world. But by the time the knockout rounds arrive, it’s proper darts. Blink at the wrong moment and you’re heading home while someone else is polishing the trophy.
JDC CEO Darren Barson believes the introduction of the event is simply another step in making sure talented young girls have every possible opportunity to progress through the sport.
“We are committed to all young players having further opportunities in darts, but I have to say, the growth of young girls in the academy system, the competitors in the Girls series and the Junior Power League this year, shows us there is serious talent out there and we need to boost the opportunities to showcase that.
“I also believe the rewards must keep coming for those children and parents that commit their attendance weekly within the academy system. I can’t wait for the Super 16 and the Girls Super 16 finals Weekend later this year”.
Yep – what Darren said. Spot on.
The Girls Super 16 Finals Weekend will take place at the home of the JDC, Hangar 61, across 31st October and 1st November, where one young player will etch her name into the history books as the inaugural champion. Halloween time so who will be scaring who on the oche.
Given the standard of talent currently coming through the ranks, don’t be surprised if we’re talking about several of these names on the biggest stages in the world over the next few years.
After all, every superstar has to start somewhere.
And judging by the quality coming through the JDC system right now, the future of women’s darts looks brighter than a pub fruit machine after somebody’s just hit the jackpot.
