Darter Van Veen first Dutch youth world champion, also title Humphries

Gian van Veen is the first Dutch youth world champion in darts. The 22-year-old Van Veen defeated his one year younger compatriot Jurjen van der Velde 6-5 in Minehead, England, who was very sad after the final.

Van Veen lost the final last year to the then 16-year-old Luke Littler. The young Englishman did not participate this year and played the final of the Players Championship Finals in the same hall tonight. He lost to fellow countryman Luke Humphries (11-7).

Dirk van Duijvenbode became in that tournament in the semi-finals by Humphries.

In advance, Van Veen, who has much more experience at major tournaments, was the big favorite for the youth World Cup. Yet the opening was for Van der Velde. He broke Van Veen in the first leg and then took his own leg.

Van Veen then put things in order and turned the match around (3-2). The well-playing Van der Veen also showed resilience and brought the score back to 3-5.

In the end he missed five competition arrows. Van Veen had a lower points average (97.57 compared to 98.04), but was more cool-headed at the decisive moment and used his first match dart, leaving him with the title.

Van der Velde fell to his knees after the last arrow and was inconsolable for a long time.