Gian van Veen has failed to win the 2026 Darts World Cup. In the final, 18-year-old Englishman Luke Littler was a size too big for the 23-year-old darts player from Andel. Littler thus extends his world title. Van Veen started well, but failed The Nuke then pass by. With his victory, Littler can add a record prize of one million pounds.
The new best darts player in our country, number three in the world, qualified for the Premier League and with at least four thousand euros in prize money. These are all things that Gian van Veen achieved during this World Darts Championship. All this came together in one match: the final of the 2026 World Darts Championship. Opponent: reigning world champion Luke Littler.
Although both cool happened, there were quite a few nerves in the first set. Gian van Veen threw the first arrow, but he saw his second leg go to Littler. Not for the first time in this tournament, Van Veen showed one of his qualities: mental agility. Head up and immediately again break take it back and run away with the first set.
Van Veen then immediately showed what he intended to do: win. 145 went out and Littler was also able to chase in the second set. The defending champion then switched to second gear and made it 1-1 in sets. The level shot up and almost half of the legs went over a hundred. To end the third set, Littler also threw a 170 finish.
Comic moment with wasp
Littler caught on and The Giant sank a bit. When Van Veen was unable to take his opponent out of his game, an unexpected guest did. The ‘Ally Pally Wasp’ had not been seen at Alexandra Palace for several rounds, but made his return during the final and targeted Littler. Unfortunately, the wasp was unable to get the leader to throw less in the match, because there was no way for the teenager, who extended the lead to 4-1.
Van Veen seemed frustrated, even though he didn’t throw that bad at all. He simply could not get a grip on the Englishman, who eventually won 7-1.
Can Van Veen look back on a special tournament?
Despite a disappointing final, Van Veen can look back on an incredible tournament in which he achieved things he can only be proud of. Before this World Cup, the darts player was quite a ‘nobody’, but he still finished second in a tournament in which he sent several big names home.
Ultimately, Van Veen walks away with £400,000 in prize money. Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler takes home the record amount of one million. Never before has so much prize money been paid out at a darts tournament.