World Youth Championship 2025 | Gian van Veen fends off mid-match fightback from Beau Greaves to retain his title

Gian van Veen has cemented his status as one of the premier young talents in world darts, becoming a two-time PDC World Youth Champion after defeating Beau Greaves 6–3 in a high-quality final that swung far harder than the scoreline suggests. The Dutchman, appearing in his third consecutive final, closed the deal in style with a clinical 118 checkout on double 18, ending a spirited mid-match surge from the women’s world champion.

Van Veen flew out of the blocks with the confidence of a man who’s been here before. A 170 attempt in the opener fell just wide of the bull, but he tidied up 44 to hold, then produced a superb 15-darter — featuring five perfect darts and an outrageous bounce-out on dart six — to break Greaves and move 3–1 in front. His scoring was relentless, hovering around a 104 average as he dominated the outer ring and looked in cruise control.

Greaves, though, didn’t come to Minehead to play the supporting role. After wiring double 16 for a 104 finish in the fifth leg, she returned to pin the same target and stop the rot, cutting the deficit to 2–4. That flicker turned into a genuine shift of momentum. Greaves opened the next leg with four perfect darts, broke Van Veen for the first time with a smart 52 finish, and suddenly the match was alive at 3–4. The crowd sensed the comeback; Van Veen definitely did.

But champions have gears, and Van Veen found his. Despite Greaves carving out another chance to level — only to miss five darts at a square game — the Dutchman stepped in with icy composure, pinning double 12 to move one from victory. When the next opportunity arrived, he didn’t blink: 60, 60, 18. Game, shot, match, title. A 118 that summed up the difference on the night.

Three years, three finals, two trophies. Gian van Veen's dominance over the PDC World Youth Championship shows no signs of stopping. The reigning European champion, he’s the present, and the trajectory is only pointing one way.