Gian van Veen closes sensational week by seeing off Michael Smith & Mike De Decker among others to take title at Jena Darts Gala 2025

Gian van Veen has experienced an extraordinary week. Fresh from clinching his first PDC ranking title, 'GVV The Giant' continued his winning streak by emerging victorious at a darts gala in Germany on Saturday evening.

Throughout the year, PDC Europe organises darts galas across various locations to promote the sport within the country. This weekend, the Jena Darts Gala took place in Jena, featuring not only Van Veen but also Scott Williams, Mike de Decker, Josh Rock, Martin Schindler, and former world champion Michael Smith.

The event commenced with a group stage, where Van Veen secured a 4-2 victory over Rock, followed by a commanding 4-0 win against the German number one Schindler. In his match against 'The Wall', the 22-year-old from Poederoijen, The Netherlands, delivered an impressive average of 109.31.

Williams, Smith, and De Decker competed in the other group, with Williams and De Decker advancing to the semi-finals. In the semi-final, Van Veen defeated Williams 4-1 before claiming the title in Jena with another 4-1 victory over De Decker.

This triumph marks the perfect conclusion to a remarkable week for Van Veen, which began with a setback. On Tuesday, he reached the final of Players Championship 5 but missed six match darts, narrowly missing out on his first Pro Tour circuit tournament win.

However, 'GVV The Giant' quickly rebounded, reaching the final of Players Championship 6 the following day. Van Veen seized this opportunity, defeating world number one Luke Humphries 8-3 to secure the title.

As a result, Van Veen has ascended to 24th place in the world rankings, his highest position to date. Impressively, he currently leads the Players Championship Order of Merit. During the first six Players Championship tournaments of the season, he has amassed £32,000 in earnings, placing him ahead of many prominent names in the sport.