In a night of high drama at Alexandra Palace on New Year’s Day, 23-year-old Dutch sensation Gian van Veen delivered a breathtaking performance to dismantle 2024 world champion Luke Humphries 5-1 in the PDC World Darts Championship quarter-finals. The comprehensive victory not only propelled van Veen into his maiden semi-final but also vaulted him provisionally to third in the world rankings, overtaking compatriot Michael van Gerwen as the new Dutch number one. Yet, amid the celebrations, fans quickly converged on social media and in post-match discussions to identify one precise moment they believed sealed Humphries’ fate—the sensational 170 checkout that ignited van Veen’s unstoppable surge.
The match began with promise of a classic showdown. Humphries, the world number two and a heavy favorite for many, won the bull to throw first, setting the tone in a high-quality opening. Van Veen drew first blood, clinching the first set 3-2 with clinical finishing, including big checkouts of 120 and 124. Humphries responded immediately, leveling at 1-1 with a steely display that showcased his trademark composure. The crowd sensed a prolonged battle, but the tide turned dramatically in the third set—a scrappy affair that became the contest’s defining chapter.
Trailing early in the set, van Veen found himself under pressure but unleashed a moment of pure magic: a maximum 180 followed by treble 20, treble 19, and bullseye for a perfect 170 finish—the Big Fish. The Alexandra Palace erupted as the Dutchman reeled it in clutch, shifting the momentum irrevocably. Humphries, who had been scoring heavily and exuding positivity, suddenly appeared flustered. As van Veen later reflected, “As soon as I hit the first 170, I missed a couple afterwards and I saw his body language change. The first couple of sets he was very positive and scoring really well. Then I started scoring better and he wasn’t.”
Fans were unanimous in declaring this the exact instant van Veen “won” the match. Many pointed out that Humphries’ errors compounded immediately after—straying into wrong beds on doubles and missing opportunities—allowing van Veen to pounce on double 10 in the deciding leg for a 2-1 lead. From there, the young star elevated his game to extraordinary heights. He fired a 10-darter to break in the fourth set, extending to 3-1, then wired another bull for a second 170 before breaking again to go 4-1 up. Van Veen closed out in style with an 11-darter, nailing double 16 under immense pressure for the 5-1 triumph.
Van Veen’s statistics underlined his dominance: a 105.41 three-dart average, multiple maximums, and ruthless finishing that left Humphries with few chances. This marked the fifth consecutive victory for van Veen over Humphries, building on previous triumphs in major televised events throughout 2025. Beaming in his post-match interview, the European Champion could barely contain his joy: “You see this smile? It won’t come off over the next 24 hours! I’m so over the moon. I felt really, really good today. The 105 average sums out how I feel.” He added, “He [Humphries] is a fantastic player and whenever we play him, we know that we need to perform at our best to have a chance of beating him.”
For Humphries, the defeat was a bitter pill. The defending runner-up from the previous year averaged a respectable 101 but struggled on doubles, converting just over a third of his attempts. Key misses in pivotal legs allowed van Veen to capitalize, and the psychological shift after that 170 proved insurmountable. Despite the loss, Humphries shared a smile with his conqueror on stage, acknowledging the superior display.
Van Veen’s rise has been meteoric. Once dreaming of challenging the established order, he now stands as a genuine title contender. His semi-final opponent is none other than two-time world champion Gary Anderson—his childhood idol from watching the 2011 final. “My first ever World Championship was in 2011 when he made the final against Adrian Lewis,” van Veen recalled. “To think even 15 years later you could play against him in a semi-final—it’s crazy. I’m really looking forward to sharing the biggest stage of them all with him. I’m just going to enjoy the game.”
This upset reshapes the tournament landscape. With Humphries eliminated—widely seen as the biggest threat to reigning champion Luke Littler—the path opens wider for the teenagers and veterans alike. Van Veen’s performance sends a clear message: a new generation is not just arriving but dominating. As he eyes further glory, fans marvel at how one checkout—a 170 masterpiece—turned a potential epic into a masterclass rout, etching van Veen’s name deeper into darts folklore.
The semi-finals on January 2 promise fireworks, with Littler facing Ryan Searle in the opener before van Veen battles Anderson. Whoever emerges, the final on January 3 could crown a new era in the sport.
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