Van Veen close to first title: "Michael was the deserved winner'"

In his first-ever European Tour finals, Gian van Veen came within a dart of taking the title. In the end, though, the 22-year-old Dutchman lost out 8-7 against Michael van Gerwen at the 2024 Hungarian Darts Trophy in an all-Dutch final in Budapest on Sunday night.

As mentioned, for Van Veen it was his first final ever on the European Tour. After wins against Keane Barry, Danny Noppert, Wessel Nijman and Ryan Searle he reached the final. In the final, when leading 7-6, Van Veen missed a matchdart and saw Van Gerwen punish, forcing a decider, before then taking the win.

"I think I played a really good tournament," said Van Veen in his post-match interview afterwards. "I was just happy this weekend to get over the quarter-finals, and to beat Ryan in the semi-finals was an amazing bonus. But when you're in the final you want to win it. Even though Michael is a fantastic player I missed some chances, and Michael was the deserved winner."

Van Veen is doing particularly well in his second full year on the PDC Pro Tour and, in the meantime, has moved up to 30th place in the PDC Order of Merit. So now he came close to his first tournament victory on the European Tour and the sense that he was particularly close to a breakthrough triumph ensures Van Veen is positive despite the near miss.

"I'm only 22 years old, and to push Michael van Gerwen this far in the final is an amazing feeling. Of course I'm disappointed," he concludes. "But Michael's 110 finish shows his class. He's the deserved winner today and congratulations to him."

Next Tuesday and Wednesday Van Veen will already be back in action, when Players Championship 22 and 23 will be finished in Leicester.