Gian van Veen produced a sensational performance to defeat world number one Luke Humphries and celebrate Machineseeker European Championship glory in Dortmund on Sunday night.
The Dutchman has made outstanding progress over the last two years, and he capped off a breakthrough tournament by celebrating his first televised ranking title in front of a record event crowd at the Westfalenhalle.
Humphries established a 4-1 lead following a subdued start to proceedings, but Van Veen burst to life in the next session, winning four of the following 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 121 and 91 combinations 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 initiative at 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 earlier in the leg.
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 23-year-old made no mistake on his return, taking out the same 100 finish - this time via double 16 - to clinch the coveted title in dramatic style.
“This is such a phenomenal feeling,” reflected Van Veen, who pockets the £120,000 top prize and rises to a career-high of world number seven.
“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.”
Van Veen had booked his place at Finals Day with emphatic wins over Damon Heta and Ryan Searle, and he kicked off Sunday’s action with a convincing 10-5 victory against Ryan Joyce.
The World Youth Champion averaged 101 to reach his second TV ranking semi-final - following his run to that stage in Dortmund two years ago - before entering new territory in his fledgling career 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 success.
Humphries, also the runner-up at the World Grand Prix earlier this month, performed superbly throughout the weekend in Dortmund, and he was full of praise for an irrepressible Van Veen post-match.
“The way Gian played in that second and third session was incredible," conceded the 2023/24 World Champion, who walks away with £60,000 in prize money.
“I knew this [title] was coming for him. He’s an unbelievable player, he’s Premier League material and I’m really proud of him.
“This is a tough one to take for me. I’m devastated, but I’m accepting of defeat – it just wasn’t my night.”
Despite missing out on a maiden European Championship crown, Humphries’ run to Sunday’s showpiece cements his status as the world number one – a position that was under serious threat this weekend.
The 30-year-old booked his place at Finals Day 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 Luke 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 last four encounter.
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 by a courageous Van Veen in a captivating all-Dutch encounter.
Click here for match stats & results.
2025 Machineseeker European Championship
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
Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 11-9 Michael van Gerwen
Luke Humphries 11-8 Danny Noppert
Final
Gian van Veen 11-10 Luke Humphries