Gian van Veen clinched the European Championship with a solid win over Luke Humphries. The 23-year-old from the Netherlands displayed remarkable composure to secure an 11-10 victory over the top-ranked player in the world.
The atmosphere was tense at Dortmund’s Westfalenhalle as Van Veen fought back from a 4-1 deficit, recovered from a missed double tops opportunity, and saw Humphries force a decisive set by hitting the bull. Nevertheless, he maintained his nerve and hit a double 16 to claim his first major title.
In an emotional interview with ITV Sport following his triumph, van Veen expressed his astonishment, stating, “Crazy. I told my girlfriend that I wouldn’t cry when I win my first TV title, and here I am in tears. I will always remember this moment and this incredible crowd. Winning my first major title in Germany is phenomenal.”
Acknowledging his opponent’s skill, Humphries commented, “I was hoping he would crack under pressure at the end, but he didn’t! I’m devastated, I’m disappointed, but I accept defeat.”
Van Veen’s victory earned him a significant prize of £120,000 and propelled him to seventh place in the PDC Order of Merit, climbing eight spots and edging closer to a top-five position.
Despite facing challenges on his journey to the final, van Veen overcame initial victories against Damon Heta and Ryan Searle before a dominant 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce. He then faced a tough battle against Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals, where he secured an 11-10 victory, albeit sustaining a minor injury to his throwing hand during the match.
Reflecting on his injury, van Veen revealed, “I’m bleeding a bit! The pressure on my darts caused some skin damage on my thumb. Despite the blood and slippery darts, I managed to focus and get the job done.”
Van Veen’s resilient performance against Humphries, despite the injury, culminated in his European Championship triumph.