European Championship 2025 | Gian van Veen wins first major PDC title in dramatic last leg decider with Luke Humphries

Gian van Veen is the 2025 European Championship winner! The Dutchman breaks new ground with a first ever major PDC title win, edging world number one Luke Humphries in a thrilling last leg decider!

In a match that swung wildly from one extreme to the other, the 23-year-old Dutchman recovered from 4–1 down, missed two championship darts at double top, watched Humphries take out the bull to force a decider, then finally nailed double 16 to seal the biggest win of his career.

It was the kind of finale that felt destined to be remembered — chaos, courage and brilliance all crammed into one match. Humphries, the world number one, looked set for another European crown after a dominant opening session. The Englishman raced into a 4–1 lead, punishing Van Veen’s early double troubles with clinical 13- and 14-dart legs.

But momentum in this sport has a funny way of flipping on its head. After the first break, Van Veen suddenly came alive. A 10-dart leg, a jaw-dropping 160 checkout and three consecutive legs later, the Dutchman was level at 4–4 and strutting around the stage like a man who finally believed he belonged there.

Humphries briefly restored order with a hold for 5–4, but by the second interval it was all square again — Van Veen averaging around 107 and starting to look like the better player.

The third session turned into a showcase of nerve and finishing. A 121 checkout from Van Veen gave him the lead for the first time at 7–6, and when he landed a 91 finish soon after to make it 8–6, the world number one suddenly looked rattled. Humphries clung on to keep it close, but Van Veen’s 112 finish to move 9–7 up was pure class under pressure.

Humphries refused to go quietly, saving his best for the final stretch. Van Veen came within a whisker of a 144 checkout for 10–7, only to see Humphries escape with a hold and then punish more missed doubles to level at 9–9.

The tension was suffocating. Every dart felt like it carried a lifetime’s weight. Van Veen finally reached 10–9 with a nervy double eight, but after missing two darts for the title at double top, Humphries’ trademark steel kicked in — a bullseye finish to force a deciding leg and send the Dortmund crowd into chaos.

In that last leg, Van Veen took control, kept his nerve, and delivered the shot that will define his rise: single 20, treble 16, double 16. As it landed, the Dutchman roared, the crowd erupted, and Humphries could only nod in respect.

From 4–1 down to European Champion. Gian van Veen has just written the next great chapter in Dutch darts.