Gian van Veen stars with 109.90 average in thrilling last leg win over Damon Heta at 2025 UK Open

Gian van Veen has qualified for the quarterfinals at the UK Open. The Dutchman threw a great match with an average of 109.90 and a finishing percentage of 76.9%. Despite allowing Heta to come back in at the end of the match, 'The Giant' eventually held his nerve to win a thriller.

Van Veen scored well in the first two legs, but the Dutchman did not get a chance at a double. The Australian threw a 15-darter with an 80-finish and a 13-darter to quickly take a 2-0 lead. Then 'The Giant' turned on the turbo for a moment. Via a 15-darter with a 72-finish Van Veen kept his own leg to make it 2-1. He then broke Heta by throwing out 127 for a 12-darter. As icing on the cake the 22-year-old from Poederoijen threw an 11-darter to lead 3-2.

The Dutchman then missed an arrow on double 19 for a 112 finish to lead 4-2. 'The Heat' stepped in and threw a great 70-finish to level the score. The next three legs all went with the darts in 13, 12 and 14 arrows, making the score 5-4 in Van Veen's favor after nine legs. In leg 10, the Dutchman managed to break his opposition at the perfect moment by throwing out an 84 finish for his second 11-darter of the match.

After the break, Van Veen cheerfully continued where he left off. A 14-darter extended his lead to 7-4. In leg 12 the Dutchman got one chance on the bullseye to lead 8-4 himself, but this chance was missed. Heta took advantage and came back to 7-5.

Van Veen then notched his third(!) 11-darter of the match to lead again by three legs. But again it was Heta who managed to keep his own leg to come back to 8-6.

The Giant again held his own leg to reach 9-6 and match point. Heta, however, had not given up yet because after he also kept his own leg the Australian broke Van Veen to come back to 8-9.

Heta then managed to keep his own leg to come back to 9-9 and force a deciding last leg. In this last decisive leg Van Veen managed to win the match with his fourth 11-darter to reach the quarterfinals after a 10-9 victory.