Luke Littler defied a spectacular nine-darter from Gian van Veen to win the inaugural Poland Darts Open on a magical day of action in Krak\u00f3w.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PDC’s first European Tour event in Poland culminated with Littler and Van Veen going head-to-head for the title, in a repeat of last month’s World Championship final at Alexandra Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Littler ran out a comprehensive 7-1 winner on that occasion, and the world number one produced another irrepressible display to pocket the \u00a335,000 top prize on Polish soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Van Veen made a terrific start to Sunday’s showpiece, following up a 112 finish with a 14-dart hold to level at two apiece, before producing perfection in leg five of the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dutch number one 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 Krak\u00f3w.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Van Veen halted Littler’s charge with a clinical 74 kill in leg ten, but the Warrington wonderkid wasn’t to be denied, winning the next two legs in just 28 darts to seal an 8-4 victory with a 108.06 average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s been a very good weekend for myself,” reflected Littler, fresh from lifting his fifth European Tour title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I felt really good throughout the tournament. In the first three weeks of the Premier League I’ve not felt the best, so I definitely needed this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I wanted to come here and win the title and that’s what I’ve done. Most importantly it was about playing well, getting that average up and hitting my doubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“My first game against Mike De Decker was incredible, and I’m very happy and very confident now going into Belfast on Thursday.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Littler was imperious from start to finish in Krak\u00f3w, having kicked off his title challenge with a 113.84 average and a 100% checkout success rate in his 6-1 thumping of De Decker on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 19-year-old continued his charge with another ton-plus average and a 6-2 victory over Ross Smith, and an emphatic 6-1 win against Josh Rock sealed his spot in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chris Dobey awaited Littler in the semi-finals, and the reigning two-time World Champion delivered another dominant display, averaging almost 106 to close out a 7-3 success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite his nine-dart heroics, Van Veen was denied a maiden European Tour title on his debut in Poland, and he admitted his moment of magic against Littler may have had a detrimental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I wish I missed that double 12!”\u00a0quipped the world number three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Of course I’m very happy to hit the nine-darter, but I think everyone noticed in the next two or three legs, I wasn’t good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I was so excited about the nine-darter – my first one on the stage, and that probably cost me the final today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Fair play to Luke. As he said, that spurred him on. That’s how he reads the game, and that’s why he is world number one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Obviously I’m gutted with the result. I’m getting a bit tired of losing finals now, but it’s part of the game and I’m happy to make another final. It’s been a great weekend.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following his deciding-leg victory over Andrew Gilding on Saturday evening, Van Veen kicked off Finals Day with another 6-5 success at the expense of Nathan Aspinall, overturning a 4-2 deficit in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The European Champion then produced a scintillating 107 average to dispatch his fellow countryman Wessel Nijman 6-2 in the quarter-finals, which he backed up with a dramatic 7-5 win over world number two Luke Humphries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pair both faltered on the outer ring in a dramatic finale, before the Dutchman regained his poise to defeat Humphries for the seventh time in their last eight meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humphries recorded a brace of 6-1 victories against Boris Krcmar and Stephen Bunting to confirm his place in the semi-finals, only to fall short in his bid for a second ranking title of 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2023\/24 World Champion was joined in the last four by Dobey, who fought back from 4-1 down to stun Luke Woodhouse in the last 16, before sweeping aside a resurgent Michael Smith in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith accounted for Premier League table-topper Jonny Clayton in reaching the last eight, as Nijman and Premier League duo Rock and Bunting completed the quarter-final line-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2026 European Tour will continue with the European Darts Trophy from March 13-15, as Aspinall bids to retain his crown in Gottingen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this will be preceded by another ProTour double-header in Leicester this week, as Players Championships 5-6 take place at the Mattioli Arena on February 24-25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RESULTS<\/strong> Quarter-Finals<\/strong> Semi-Finals<\/strong> Final<\/strong> Luke Littler defied a spectacular nine-darter from Gian van Veen to win the inaugural Poland Darts Open on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-9757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","tag-darts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Round Three
<\/strong>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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke Littler 7-3 Chris Dobey
Gian van Veen 7-5 Luke Humphries<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke Littler 8-4 Gian van Veen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"