Gian van Veen Wins Maiden PDC European Championship Title in Dortmund

Gian van Veen, a 23-year-old Dutch darts player, won his first major PDC title at the European Championship in Dortmund by defeating world number one Luke Humphries 11-10 in a tense final. Van Veen overcame a difficult semi-final against four-time champion Michael van Gerwen, despite injuring his thumb, which caused him pain throughout the final. Despite Humphries taking an early 4-1 lead, Van Veen mounted a strong comeback and clinched victory with a 100 checkout in the deciding leg, after both missed opportunities to close the match. Van Veen expressed deep emotion and gratitude for the win, highlighting the sportsmanship of Humphries, who praised Van Veen as a tremendous player and Premier League material. The victory earned Van Veen £120,000 and elevated him to a career-high world number seven. This landmark win marks a significant achievement in Van Veen's promising career, having overcome dartitis to become one of the sport's rising stars.