World No 1 Luke Littler defied a perfect leg from Dutchman Gian van Veen to win the first-ever Poland Darts Open on Sunday.
Littler slayed the Dutchman 8-4 in a repeat of last month’s World Championship final to win the title in Krakow with the 19-year-old phenom revealing Van Veen’s first-ever televised nine-darter spurred him on to victory.
The reigning European Champion hit the perfect leg to lead 3-2 but ‘The Nuke’ won six of the next seven legs to defeat his rival in emphatic fashion averaging a blistering 108.06 in the process.
“It definitely spurred me on,” reflected Littler, fresh from lifting his fifth European Tour title. “All weekend I’ve gone off 180 and I’ve wanted to go back-to-back to have a shot myself but when Gian hit it, in my head I was like ‘let’s get him now he’s a bit tired’.
“In the past people have hit nine-darters against me and it’s a big achievement. It’s not easy to do. In the final, so early, I was like just go for him now while he’s a bit overwhelmed.”
The 19-year-old added: “In the Premier League, the first three weeks, I’ve not felt the best but coming here I definitely needed this one.
“We can take it onto Belfast on Thursday.”
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Highlights of the World Championship final between Littler and Van Veen…
Littler ran out a comprehensive 7-1 winner at Alexandra Palace, and the world No 1 produced another irrepressible display to pocket the £35,000 top prize on Polish soil.
Van Veen made a terrific start, following up a 112 finish with a 14-dart hold to level at two apiece, before producing perfection in leg five of the contest.
The Dutch No 1 followed up back-to-back 180s with a nerveless 141 outshot, capping off his first nine-darter on the big stage and sending the capacity crowd into raptures at the EXPO Krakow.
However, Littler responded with an immediate break of throw in leg six, which he backed up with legs of 14, 14 and 12 darts to establish a commanding 6-3 cushion.
Van Veen halted Littler’s charge with a clinical 74 finish in leg 10, but the Warrington wonderkid wasn’t to be denied, winning the next two legs in just 28 darts to seal victory.
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Van Veen did get a semblance of revenge over Littler on Night One of this year’s Premier League Darts…
World No 3 Van Veen, who was denied a maiden European Tour title on his debut in Poland, admitted his moment of magic against Littler may have had a detrimental impact.
“I wish I missed the double 12! Of course I’m very happy to hit the nine-darter but the next two or three legs I was not good,” he said.
“I was so excited about the nine-darter, my first ever on stage, that cost me the final.”
In the semi-finals, Littler averaged just shy of 106 with 44 per cent on the doubles as he cruised past Chris Dobey 7-3 to make yet another European Tour final.
Van Veen continued his dominant recent head-to-head record against Luke Humphries with a 7-5 victory despite the Dutch No 1 missing eight match darts in the previous leg.
Cracking quarter-finals in Krakow
Luke Humphries took out 170 in an emphatic win against Stephen Bunting
Littler delivered another strong display on the doubles, securing his fifth consecutive win over Josh Rock with a 6-1 triumph.
Dobey defeated Michael Smith 6-2 to set up an encounter against Littler and was wary of the threat he posed, joking: “It will probably only last three minutes. The man is a machine.”
Humphries reached the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against Stephen Bunting.
‘Cool Hand’ reeled in ‘The Big Fish’ early on, and completed the job to earn a last four clash against Van Veen.
The Dutchman took out a fantastic 130 checkout to cap off an incredible 6-2 win over Wessel Nijman – taking out 130 – ending the contest with a 107.5 average and 50 per cent on the doubles.
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 6-1 Josh Rock
Chris Dobey 6-2 Michael Smith
Luke Humphries 6-1 Stephen Bunting
Gian van Veen 6-2 Wessel Nijman
Semi-finals
Luke Littler 7-3 Chris Dobey
Gian van Veen 7-5 Luke Humphries
Final
Luke Littler 8-4 Gian van Veen
Littler, Humphries, Van Veen progress in afternoon session
![Luke littler [Taylor Lanning/PDC]](https://e0.365dm.com/26/02/768x432/skysports-luke-littler-darts_7152715.jpg?20260205154507)
Littler remained on track to win the first European Tour event of the year after an impressive afternoon showing in Krakow
After Littler produced fireworks in dispatching Mike De Decker on Saturday, the Warrington teenager sparkled in the afternoon session on Sunday – making it seven wins in a row over Ross Smith as he recovered from 2-0 down with six legs on the spin to surge into the quarter-finals against Rock with 100 average, five 180s and 55 per cent on the doubles.
Humphries missed 13 darts at double in his match against Croatia’s Boris Krcmar, but still eased to a 6-1 victory.
He then clarified his comments about the crowd in Krakow after appearing to criticise them on Saturday night.
“I wasn’t moaning yesterday. I get it. I understand it. There’s no disrespect to the crowd,” he said. “Yesterday was tough and sometimes when you play in such an emotional game you don’t say things the right way.
“I thought the crowd were absolutely amazing, one of the best atmospheres you’ve ever seen on the European Tour.”
Van Veen battled back to defeat Nathan Aspinall
The best match of the afternoon session saw Van Veen recover from 4-2 down to beat Nathan Aspinall 6-5 in a last-leg decider.
Aspinall averaged more than 100, but a crucial 122 bullseye finish for Van Veen in the eighth leg proved pivotal, coming moments after Aspinall missed bull for a 5-3 lead.
Former world champion Michael Smith, who was a late call-up for this tournament and only arrived on Saturday morning after missing his Friday flight, punished a dreadful display of finishing from Jonny Clayton (4/17) to seal a 6-4 win.
Afternoon Session
Round Three
Luke Littler 6-2 Ross Smith
Josh Rock 6-3 Cristo Reyes
Chris Dobey 6-5 Luke Woodhouse
Michael Smith 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Luke Humphries 6-1 Boris Krcmar
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Gian van Veen 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Wessel Nijman 6-1 Cameron Menzies
What’s happening on Premier League Night Four in Belfast?
Josh Rock headlines Premier League Night Four in Belfast
Rock will take centre stage in Belfast on Thursday, with the Northern Irishman facing fellow Premier League newcomer Van Veen in a blockbuster tie at the SSE Arena.
Littler faces Jonny Clayton, with Stephen Bunting up against Humphries, while Michael van Gerwen will be aiming to return from his absence in Glasgow to take on Gerwyn Price in a must-watch quarter-final tie.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
