Gian van Veen dethrones Luke Humphries at the Players Championship Finals
Gian van Veen ended Luke Humphries’ bid for a hat-trick of Players Championship Finals titles with a comeback win in the opening round in Minehead on Friday.
Having defeated Humphries in both the World Matchplay and European Championship this season, Van Veen made it a trio of victories over the world number two in major competition as he came from 3-0 down to prevail in a last-leg decider.
Humphries took the opening leg with a 145 checkout and quickly moved three clear, before Van Veen produced a sensational 161 checkout to get off the mark.
The Dutchman then added an 81 checkout on the bull, before Humphries restore a two-leg cushion at 4-2.
Van Veen reeled off three legs on the spin to move 5-4 ahead, though Humphries hit back with double ten to force a decider after the European Champion had squandered two match darts at tops.
Humphries fired in a 180 in the decider, but after a further three missed match darts, Van Veen finally got over the line via double 12 to book his place in Saturday’s Last 32.
Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up Luke Littler began his bid for a sixth major title of 2025 with a 6-1 demolition of Jeffrey de Graaf, averaging 104.5 and pinning six of his eight attempts at doubles in the process.
“It felt amazing being introduced as the world number one,” admitted Littler. “It’s probably one of the best feelings I’ve had and hopefully there’s more to come.”
Top seed Gerwyn Price launched his title challenge with a route 6-2 win over Max Hopp, which featured a magnificent 154 checkout.
However, second seed Wessel Nijman was dumped out in a decider by his fellow countryman Richard Veenstra, averaging 102.4 and landing five maximums but only to miss a match dart in the last leg.
Former finalists Jonny Clayton, Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall also suffered shock first round exits at the hands of James Hurrell, Sebastian Bialecki and Ryan Joyce respectively.
Joyce will take on sixth seed Jermaine Wattimena in Round Two after the Dutchman averaged 101.6 to defeat compatriot Wesley Plaisier 6-3.
World number four Stephen Bunting and 2018 champion Daryl Gurney will also go head-to-head on Saturday following comfortable wins over Ritchie Edhouse and Brendan Dolan respectively.
Gurney is one of three former champions left standing at the Butlin’s Minehead Resort, after Scottish icons Gary Anderson and Peter Wright also made winning returns.
Anderson defeated Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-2 to book a meeting with German number two Ricardo Pietreczko – who condemned William O’Connor to a fourth straight opening round exit at this event.
Wright, meanwhile, completed a 6-3 success against Joe Cullen to set up a heavyweight showdown against world number six James Wade, who saw off Mickey Mansell by the same scoreline in a frosty encounter.
Danny Noppert maintained his superb run of form by averaging 103.8 to dispatch Ricky Evans and set up a clash against Madars Razma – who accounted for a struggling Dirk van Duijvenbode on Stage Two.
German number one Martin Schindler came out on top 6-4 against former World Champion Michael Smith, while Josh Rock preserved his hopes courtesy of a routine 6-3 success against Gabriel Clemens.
Nathan Aspinall produced a sublime 170 checkout on his way to a 6-3 victory over Czech number one Karel Sedlacek in a high-quality contest which featured eight maximums.
Kevin Doets also reeled in the Big Fish with a 170 checkout during his clash with Callan Rydz, though it came in a losing cause as Rydz moved through to a meeting with 2021 runner-up Ryan Searle.
Searle delivered a doubling masterclass in demolishing Darren Beveridge 6-1, after fourth seed Ross Smith swept aside Ryan Meikle in identical fashion to set up a showdown with Littler.
Andrew Gilding survived a staggering nine match darts in overturning a 5-3 deficit against Dom Taylor, and the former UK Open champion will now play local hero Justin Hood – who dumped out third seed Damon Heta on his Players Championship Finals debut.
Cam Crabtree also enjoyed a debut to remember as he recovered from 4-1 down to deny former World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker in a decider and advance to a tie with fifth seed Chris Dobey.
Dobey demolished Ireland’s Keane Barry in Friday’s finale, punishing a dire display of finishing from the Irishman to clinch a crushing 6-1 victory.
Krzysztof Ratajski won through a scrappy affair against a struggling Raymond van Barneveld, and Poland’s number one will face European Champion Van Veen in the Last 32.
Bradley Brooks and Adam Lipscombe will also collide after kicking off their campaigns with 6-1 routs of Martin Lukeman and Cameron Menzies respectively.
Scott Williams, Luke Woodhouse and Nick Kenny completed the second round line-up courtesy of wins over Ian White, Alan Soutar and Niels Zonneveld respectively.
Players Championship Finals 2025 Day One Results
Friday November 21
First Round
Afternoon Session
Main Stage
Rob Cross 2-6 Sebastian Bialecki
Dave Chisnall 4-6 Ryan Joyce
Mike De Decker 5-6 Cam Crabtree
Danny Noppert 6-2 Ricky Evans
James Wade 6-3 Mickey Mansell
Jonny Clayton 3-6 James Hurrell
Ross Smith 6-1 Ryan Meikle
Stage Two
Bradley Brooks 6-1 Martin Lukeman
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Dom Taylor
Scott Williams 6-2 Ian White
Niels Zonneveld 4-6 Nick Kenny
Kevin Doets 4-6 Callan Rydz
Cameron Menzies 1-6 Adam Lipscombe
Brendan Dolan 3-6 Daryl Gurney
Luke Woodhouse 6-2 Alan Soutar
William O’Connor 3-6 Ricardo Pietreczko
Evening Session
Main Stage
Martin Schindler 6-4 Michael Smith
Josh Rock 6-3 Gabriel Clemens
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Max Hopp
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Luke Littler 6-1 Jeffrey de Graaf
Gian van Veen 6-5 Luke Humphries
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Karel Sedlacek
Chris Dobey 6-1 Keane Barry
Stage Two
Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Wesley Plaisier
Ryan Searle 6-1 Darren Beveridge
Wessel Nijman 5-6 Richard Veenstra
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Raymond van Barneveld
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-6 Madars Razma
Gary Anderson 6-2 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Joe Cullen 3-6 Peter Wright
Damon Heta 4-6 Justin Hood
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