Coventry student rises to world number one in darts
Nineteen year old Jenson Walker has just been named as number one in the World Darts Federation (WDF) rankings
A 19-year-old accountancy student from Coventry University has become world number one in the World Darts Federation rankings after a remarkable rise through the sport.
Jenson Walker has claimed multiple titles in WDF competitions and earned three call-ups to the professional tour run by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), the organisation that hosts the biggest names in the game - including teenage sensation Luke Littler, whom Walker has already beaten three times.
His recent success has propelled him to the top of the WDF rankings, marking what he describes as “a dream year” in 2025.
Among his standout achievements are victory at the Romanian Open Classic and a run to the semi-finals of the WDF World Championships.
Despite his rapid ascent, Jenson admits darts didn't come naturally when he first started playing: “At Christmas we would always watch the world championships on TV and get the dartboard out of the loft.
“One year it stayed up after Christmas and then the Covid pandemic hit. Through pure boredom I started chucking, and it spiralled from there.”
About a year later, he began to realise he had genuine potential. As lockdown restrictions eased, he entered a youth tournament.
Jenson said: “I was a steady player and, because I hadn’t played properly before, I didn’t feel any pressure."
Walker and Littler began competing at a similar time and have since represented England together, building a friendly rivalry along the way.
“We’ve had numerous battles, he’s winning 5–3 currently and I’ll take that at the moment.” Jenson said.
With three appearances on the PDC Pro Tour under his belt, Jenson says he is becoming more familiar with the elite level of the sport: “I know a few of the top players quite well now and I’d like to think they know who I am.
"I want to get as many chances as I can on the Pro Tour this year.”
Alongside his ambitions in darts, Walker is studying accountancy at Coventry University as part of the institution’s sports scholarship scheme, which provides financial support and access to specialist services including nutrition, strength and conditioning, performance analysis and sports psychology.
Jenson said: “It felt the right time to start my studies alongside my darts.
“The finances that were up for grabs last year meant I couldn’t risk not putting all my effort into that, so I delayed starting in September and began in January.
"I’m ready for this now and it feels right.”
Although darts may not demand the same physical intensity as many sports, Jenson said fitness and conditioning still play a key role: “You can turn up for a tournament at 7.30am and if you go deep into the competition you can be there until about 9pm.
“The conditioning and nutrition is important because your days can be very long.”
He also emphasises the mental challenge of competing in front of thousands of fans: “Darts is the best game when you’re winning and the most lonely when it’s going badly.
“There can be 3,000 or 4,000 fans screaming behind you. I’ve worked with psychologists over the years, mainly on breath work.
“When you get it right it’s just background noise, like a haze, and that’s how I know I’m focused.”
With the world number one ranking secured and growing experience on the professional stage, Jenson is now aiming to establish himself as a regular contender on the PDC circuit and continue a journey that began with a dartboard left up after Christmas.