Gian Van Veen Shocked To Learn PDC Rule Minutes After Beating Luke Humphries
Gian van Veen admitted he was left stunned after discovering a little-known PDC rule moments after his dramatic victory over Luke Humphries at the World Darts Championship.
The Dutchman produced one of the biggest shocks of the tournament by knocking out the world number one in a tense quarter-final clash at Alexandra Palace, sealing a famous win that sent shockwaves through the darts world.
But while celebrations were still fresh, Van Veen revealed he had been caught completely off guard by a regulation he was unaware of — learning about it only after the match had finished.
Speaking in his post-match interview, the 22-year-old confessed he had no idea that certain match conditions could have changed had the contest gone any further.
“I honestly didn’t know the rule,” Van Veen admitted. “Someone told me about it just after I came off stage. If I’d known during the match, it might have played on my mind.”
Although Van Veen did not specify that the rule influenced his performance, he acknowledged the revelation came as a surprise given the magnitude of the occasion and the opponent he had just defeated.
The match itself was a gripping affair, with Van Veen holding his nerve against Humphries — the reigning world champion — in a contest filled with heavy scoring, pressure checkouts and visible tension on stage. Humphries, widely tipped to retain his title, struggled to find his usual rhythm at key moments as Van Veen capitalised.
Van Veen’s victory marked the biggest win of his career and confirmed his arrival on the sport’s biggest stage, drawing praise from fans and pundits alike for his composure under intense pressure.
Reflecting on the result, Van Veen said beating Humphries still hadn’t fully sunk in.
“It feels unreal,” he said. “You grow up watching players like Luke, so to beat him on this stage is something special. I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
Despite the surprise surrounding the PDC rule, tournament officials confirmed that all procedures were correctly followed and that the outcome of the match was unaffected.
Van Veen will now turn his attention to the semi-finals, where he faces another daunting test as he continues his remarkable run at Alexandra Palace.
Whether or not he knew every rule beforehand, one thing is now certain — Gian van Veen has firmly announced himself as a serious force in world darts.
