Gian van Veen, Chris Dobey, Danny Noppert: Who are the most notable players still waiting for a first Euro Tour title

By winning the International Darts Open in Riesa, Germany, Ross Smith has finally shaken off a striking statistical tag. The Englishman claimed his very first European Tour title last weekend and can no longer be listed among the high-ranked players on the world rankings without a Euro Tour win. Smith defeated compatriot Ryan Searle convincingly 8-3 in the final, capping a superb tournament.

Smith’s victory immediately triggers an interesting reshuffle on the list of the best players still waiting for their first European Tour title. That dubious distinction now belongs to Dutchman Gian van Veen. The current world number three has long been regarded as one of the biggest talents in global darts, yet, strikingly, a European Tour crown is still missing from his résumé.

That is all the more notable because Van Veen already has a major TV title to his name. The young Dutchman previously won the European Championship, one of the most important majors on the PDC calendar. That puts him among the absolute elite, but he has yet to deliver a definitive breakthrough at European Tour events. Still, given his consistency and impressive scoring power, it seems only a matter of time before Van Veen lifts his first title there as well.

Behind Van Veen are several established names who, surprisingly, have also never won a European Tour event. Danny Noppert, currently ranked tenth in the world, remains empty-handed on this stage despite years at the top and his major triumph at the UK Open. Ryan Searle, who once again missed out on a Euro Tour title in Riesa, is also still chasing that coveted first win.

Players such as Chris Dobey, Jermaine Wattimena, and Luke Woodhouse also remain on that list. Dobey in particular stands out, as he has captured multiple TV titles in recent years and regularly goes deep at major tournaments. Yet a European Tour success still eludes him as well.

From a Belgian perspective, it is also noteworthy that Mike De Decker ranks high on the list. The Belgian has developed strongly in recent seasons and has impressed on big stages several times, but a European Tour title has so far remained out of reach.

With Ross Smith dropping off the list, the pressure on the remaining names only seems to grow. Heading into the upcoming Euro Tour weekends, extra attention will turn to players like Van Veen, Noppert, and Dobey, all hoping to finally remove themselves from this eye-catching list soon.

The next Euro Tour on the schedule takes place this coming weekend, with the Baltic Sea Darts on the program in Kiel. Gerwyn Price starts that tournament as defending champion after beating Gary Anderson 8-3 in last year’s final.