"I’m devastated but I knew this title was coming for him" - Luke Humphries shows class in Van Veen European Championship defeat

Luke Humphries once again proved why he has held first place in the world rankings for quite some time. Although he lost in the final of the European Championship in Dortmund against top Dutch talent Gian van Veen, he showed that he is not only a great player, but also a great sportsman. In a weekend full of top performances and emotion, "Cool Hand Luke" showed his resilience, humility and respect for his young opponent.

The 30-year-old, who finished runner-up at the World Grand Prix earlier this month, started the tournament in Dortmund with convincing wins. Humphries seemed on his way to his first final victory at the European Darts Championship, but in the final Van Veen proved just too strong.

In the first session of the final, Humphries still seemed in control. His familiar, calm demeanor at the oche gave him a slight edge, while the crowd enjoyed two players battling each other at the sharp end. But as the match progressed, Van Veen began to find his rhythm. The young Dutchman showed an impressive display of darts, with high finishes and a high doubles percentage.

Humphries looked at his opponent with respect. Afterwards, he admitted that Van Veen had simply outclassed him in crucial phases of the match.

“The way Gian played in that second and third session was incredible," conceded Humphries, 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.

It was a statement typical of the Englishman: honest, sportsmanlike and without excuses. Humphries, who takes home £60,000 in prize money with his defeat, remained sober despite the disappointment.

“This is a tough one to take for me. I’m devastated, but I’m accepting of defeat – it just wasn’t my night.”

Although the title passed him by, Humphries can look back on an impressive weekend. His consistency throughout the tournament confirmed why he is currently ranked number one in the world. And that was no given: his position at the top of the world rankings was under pressure. A bad result in Dortmund could have cost his status as the front-runner, but Humphries proved once again that he is there at the important moments.

His performance also underscored his growth as a player and as a personality. Where he used to struggle visibly with frustration when faced with setbacks, he showed in Dortmund that as a world champion he is mentally stronger than ever. Even in the moments when Van Veen hurt him with brilliant legs and high scores, Humphries remained focused and combative.

Since his world title in 2024, Humphries has more than lived up to the expectations of fans and connoisseurs. He captured multiple major titles and became a fixture in the decisive stages of every major tournament. His calm demeanor, precision and ability to peak at the right moments make him one of the most complete players on the circuit.

In addition, what sets him apart is his respect for others. Humphries' praise for Gian van Veen was sincere and telling. He recognizes the young Dutchman's talent and sees in him a future greatness.

A busy period now awaits Humphries with important tournaments on the calendar, including the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals and, of course, preparation for the Darts World Cup at Alexandra Palace. With his current form and the right mindset, another major title seems only a matter of time....

His defeat in Dortmund will only serve as fuel for new successes. "I take this loss as motivation," Humphries said in closing. "I know what I can do, and I know I will come back stronger."