Gian van Veen sets new European Tour record average at the Dutch Darts Championship

Gian van Veen set a new record average on the European Tour with an astonishing display to whitewash Sebastian Bialecki in the second round of the Dutch Darts Championship.

The world number three averaged 120.24 in demolishing the Polish youngster with consecutive legs of 12, 12, 13, 13, 11 and 14 darts.

Van Veen eclipsed the previous record set by Dave Chisnall (118.66) in 2018 as he delighted his home crowd with a ten-minute masterclass in Maastricht.

“I knew I was playing well, I wanted to hit that bullseye in that last leg,” said Van Veen, who came within a dart of breaking the record average in a broadcast PDC event.

“The average is nice, it’s fantastic to have that record, but it’s another win and that’s what matters.

“It shows that I’ve still got it in my locker, I’m still here.”

Van Veen will now face Brendan Dolan in Sunday afternoon’s Last 16 after the veteran Northern Irishman battled back from 3-1 down with five legs on the spin to knock out debutant host nation qualifier Heine Uuldriks 6-4.

Jonny Clayton was brought back down to earth with a bump after last weekend’s Swiss Darts Trophy triumph as Damon Heta emphatically ended with Dutch Darts Championship title defence.

An inspired Heta tore up the form guide to record a 6-1 demolition with a 103.5 average, affording the Welshman just one dart at a double in the entire contest.

William O’Connor silenced the partisan Dutch crowd as he recorded his first win over Michael van Gerwen for eight years, holding his nerve to seal a deciding-leg triumph.

The in-form Irishman produced checkouts of 136 and 131 en route to forcing a decider, in which he broke throw with a 121 checkout to resign MVG to his fourth defeat in a row in all competitions.

The race for the European Championship saw Stephen Bunting secure his spot in Dortmund following a 6-2 win over Cameron Menzies – who averaged just 80 with 20 per cent on the doubles in an abysmal display.

Michael Smith’s hopes of gatecrashing the European Championship were emphatically ended by Nathan Aspinall – who stormed to a 6-1 rout with a 102.5 average and high checkouts of 130 and 132.

Martin Schindler is assured of a place in the European Championship after he pulled off a crucial 6-4 win over in-form Karel Sedlacek.

Sedlacek, however, will join Schindler in next week’s £750,000 major unless Dolan goes on to lift the title in Maastricht.

Cristo Reyes produced a magnificent display to thrash Chris Dobey 6-2 with a 110.2 average, inflicting a seventh opening match exit on the European Tour for Dobey this season.

Second seed Gerwyn Price produced a clinical display of finishing to see off Scott Williams 6-3 with 60 per cent on the outer ring and an average of 97.1.

Jermaine Wattimena blitzed past fellow Dutchman Jimmy van Schie 6-2 to seal his spot in the Last 16 – where Danny Noppert awaits after he overcame eight-time European Tour event winner Dave Chisnall 6-4.

Niels Zonneveld maintained his blistering scoring form, firing in seven 180s on his way to a deciding-leg victory over Krzysztof Ratajski.

Ryan Searle held his nerve to deny Dirk van Duijvenbode thanks to a clutch 93 checkout in the deciding leg, adding to his earlier 144 finish and ending the contest from six from eight on the doubles.

World Series Finals champion Ross Smith averaged 101.5 with the aid of four maximums in a dominant 6-2 win over Ryan Joyce to kick-start his bid for a third European Tour title of 2026.

Wessel Nijman launched his quest for a third European Tour title of the season with a 6-3 success over Jeffrey De Graaf, while Baltic Sea Darts Open champion Luke Woodhouse thrashed Andrew Gilding 6-1.

Dutch Darts Championship 2026 Day Two Results

Saturday October 17

Second Round

Afternoon Session
Martin Schindler 6-4 Karel Sedlacek
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Jeffrey De Graaf
Luke Woodhouse 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Ross Smith 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Danny Noppert 6-4 Dave Chisnall
Ryan Searle 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Heine Uuldriks
Krzysztof Ratajski 5-6 Niels Zonneveld

Evening Session
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Scott Williams
Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Jimmy van Schie
Stephen Bunting 6-2 Cameron Menzies
Gian van Veen 6-0 Sebastian Bialecki
Michael van Gerwen 5-6 William O’Connor
Jonny Clayton 1-6 Damon Heta
Nathan Aspinall 6-1 Michael Smith
Chris Dobey 2-6 Cristo Reyes