Spellbinding Luke Littler Dominates the inaugural Poland Darts Open to claim the title 

Luke Littler overcame a sensational nine-dart finish from Gian van Veen to clinch the inaugural SUPERBET Poland Darts Open title, rounding off a thrilling weekend of darts in Kraków.

The PDC’s first European Tour stop on Polish soil concluded with a blockbuster final between Littler and Van Veen — a rematch of last month’s World Championship showpiece at Alexandra Palace. On that occasion, Littler had dominated to secure a 7-1 victory, and although this latest encounter proved far more dramatic, the end result was the same: the world number one lifting the trophy and collecting the £35,000 winner’s cheque.

Van Veen burst out of the traps in Sunday’s final, immediately signalling his intent. A brilliant 112 checkout helped him seize early momentum, and he followed that with a crisp 14-dart hold to draw level at two legs apiece. What followed in leg five was a moment that will live long in the memory of those inside the EXPO Kraków.

After firing in back-to-back maximums, the Dutchman coolly pinned a 141 checkout to complete a flawless nine-dart leg — the first of his professional career on a televised stage. The perfect leg sent the capacity crowd into raptures and briefly tilted the balance of the contest in his favour.

Yet champions respond, and Littler did exactly that. Showing remarkable composure, he immediately broke back in leg six to halt Van Veen’s surge. From there, the teenager accelerated through the gears. Clinical legs of 14, 14 and 12 darts propelled him into a commanding 6-3 lead, underlining why he sits atop the world rankings.

Van Veen refused to fade quietly. A neat 74 finish in leg ten kept his hopes alive, but Littler proved ruthless in closing out the contest. Winning the next two legs in just 28 darts, he sealed an 8-4 triumph with a superb 108.06 average — a fitting finale to a dominant campaign.

“It’s been a very good weekend for myself,” reflected Littler after collecting his fifth European Tour crown.

“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.

“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.

“My first game against Mike De Decker was incredible, and I’m very happy and very confident now going into Belfast on Thursday.”

Littler’s route to the title was emphatic from start to finish. He opened his campaign with a blistering 113.84 average and a flawless display on the doubles in a 6-1 demolition of Mike De Decker. He followed that with another ton-plus average in a 6-2 win over Ross Smith, before brushing aside Josh Rock 6-1 to secure his semi-final berth.

Awaiting him in the last four was Chris Dobey, but Littler delivered yet another commanding performance. Averaging just shy of 106, he powered to a 7-3 success to book his place in the final.

For Van Veen, it was a bittersweet conclusion. Despite producing a moment of perfection in the final, he was denied a maiden European Tour title on his Polish debut. Reflecting on his nine-darter, the Dutchman suggested the emotional high may have disrupted his focus.

“I wish I missed that double 12!” quipped Van Veen.

“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.

“I was so excited about the nine-darter – my first one on the stage, and that probably cost me the final today.

“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.

“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.”

Van Veen’s journey to the final had been equally impressive. After edging out Andrew Gilding in a deciding-leg thriller on Saturday, he began Finals Day by overturning a 4-2 deficit to defeat Nathan Aspinall 6-5. He then averaged 107 in a commanding 6-2 victory against compatriot Wessel Nijman in the quarter-finals.

In the semi-finals, Van Veen outlasted world number two Luke Humphries in a tense 7-5 encounter. Both players struggled for fluency on the doubles during the closing stages, but the Dutchman steadied himself at the crucial moment to claim his seventh win in their last eight meetings.

Humphries had earlier posted convincing 6-1 wins over Boris Krcmar and Stephen Bunting to reach the semi-finals, while Dobey’s run included a comeback victory over Luke Woodhouse and a quarter-final triumph against Michael Smith. Smith had accounted for Jonny Clayton in the previous round, as Nijman, Rock and Bunting completed the last eight line-up.

Attention now turns to the next stop on the 2026 European Tour calendar. The circuit resumes with the European Darts Trophy in Göttingen from March 13-15, where Aspinall will look to defend his title. Before that, however, players head to Leicester for another ProTour double-header at the Mattioli Arena, with Players Championships 5-6 scheduled for February 24-25.

 

Spellbinding Luke Littler Dominates the inaugural Poland Darts Open to claim the title 

 

2026 SUPERBET Poland Darts Open

Sunday February 22

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

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