Gian van Veen claims European Championship glory for his maiden major title

Gian van Veen clinched his first major title at the 2025 European Darts Championship with a thrilling 11-10 victory over Luke Humphries in Dortmund on Sunday.

The 23-year-old celebrated a landmark moment in his career as he became the youngest-ever winner of the tournament in front of a record event crowd at the Westfalenhalle.

Van Veen’s breakthrough came on this stage two years ago when he reached the semi-finals on his debut, and the Dutchman made history by scooping the £120,000 top prize at the third attempt.

A remarkable display of resilience saw Van Veen battle back from 4-1 down to deny Humphries with a 100 checkout in an epic last-leg decider, surviving a match dart in the process.

“I said to my girlfriend whenever I won my first stage title that I wouldn’t cry, but here we are. I’m crying,” said an emotional Van Veen.

“It’s such a phenomenal feeling.

“When I missed that 100 finish to win 11-9 and Luke hit the 85 on the bull, I thought it was over, so to hit that same 100 checkout to win it is amazing.

“I will never forget this moment, and it’s incredible to win my first major title in Germany. What a night!

“I know Luke is devastated to lose this final, but the sportsmanship he showed towards me – that’s why he is the world number one. He’s an amazing person.”

Humphries established a 4-1 lead in a low-key start to the final, but Van Veen burst to life after the first break, winning four of the next five legs in 13, 10, 12 and 13 darts to level at five apiece.

That blistering burst also featured a magnificent 160 checkout, and the young Dutchman continued his charge with clinical checkouts of 121 and 91 to surge into an 8-6 lead.

Van Veen landed his third ton-plus checkout of the contest with a 112 finish to move 9-7 clear, before defying back-to-back legs from Humphries to regain the upper-hand 10-9.

Humphries was staring down the barrel with Van Veen throwing for victory, but the world number one forced a decider with a skin-saving 85 finish on the bull, having survived two match darts.

Van Veen had missed two darts at tops for a 100 outshot to take the title, yet he was offered a chance at redemption moments later, when Humphries spurned a championship dart of his own at tops.

The World Youth Champion made no mistake on his return, taking out the same 100 finish – this time via double 16 – to clinch the title in dramatic fashiom.

Van Veen had booked his place in the quarter-finals with emphatic wins over Damon Heta and Ryan Searle, and he kicked off Sunday’s action with a convincing 10-5 victory over Ryan Joyce.

He then averaged 101 to reach his second televised ranking semi-final before breaking new ground with a dramatic comeback win over his fellow countryman Michael van Gerwen.

Despite the discomfort of an injury to his throwing hand – having cut his thumb and forefinger on the grip of his dart during the win over Joyce – Van Veen overturned an 8-7 deficit to stun his compatriot, who was eyeing a record fifth European Championship crown.

Humphries, also runner-up at the World Grand Prix earlier this month, performed superbly throughout the weekend in Dortmund, and admitted: “I’m a very good loser but this is a tough one to take. I was hoping he was going to sh*t himself in the end there, but he didn’t.

“The way Gian played in that second and third session was incredible.

“I knew this was coming for him. He’s an unbelievable player, he’s Premier League material and I’m really proud of him.

“I’m devastated, but I’m accepting of defeat – it just wasn’t my night.”

Despite missing out on a maiden European Championship title, Humphries’ run to Sunday’s showpiece cements his status as the world number one – a position that was under threat by Luke Littler this weekend.

The 30-year-old booked his place in the Last Eight with impressive wins over Krzysztof Ratajski and Cameron Menzies, averaging 110 in a six-leg demolition of the Polish number one before edging past Menzies in a last-leg epic.

Humphries then swept aside Littler’s conqueror James Wade in the quarter-finals, which he followed up with an 11-8 victory against Danny Noppert in a topsy-turvy semi-final.

Noppert was featuring in a third consecutive European Championship semi-final, having dumped out German number two Ricardo Pietreczko in a repeat of their quarter-final clash 12 months ago.

Van Gerwen, meanwhile, ran out a 10-7 winner against Daryl Gurney in Sunday’s other quarter-final, only to be denied 11-9 by a courageous Van Veen.

Van Veen’s triumph sees him climb eight places to a career-high seventh on the PDC Order of Merit, smashing the £500,000 prize money tally.

European Darts Championship 2025 Day Four Results

Sunday October 26

Afternoon Session

Quarter-Finals
Gian van Veen 10-5 Ryan Joyce
Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Daryl Gurney
Danny Noppert 10-5 Ricardo Pietreczko
Luke Humphries 10-3 James Wade

Evening Session

Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 11-9 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 11-8 Danny Noppert

Final
Gian van Veen 11-10 Luke Humphries