‘It spurred me on’ – Luke Littler watches Gian van Veen hit nine-darter then destroys him in Polish Darts Open final

Luke Littler admitted Gian van Veen’s stunning nine-darter actually spurred him on to Euro Tour glory.

The world champion lifted the first Poland Darts Open title with an 8-4 victory over the Dutchman in Krakow on Sunday night.

It was a repeat of their world final showdown at Alexandra Palace earlier this year, and Littler had to withstand a moment of brilliance when Van Veen fired in a sensational nine-darter to edge 3-2 ahead.

But the teenager roared back, dropping just two more legs on his way to claiming Poland’s first Euro Tour crown — finishing with a superb 108.6 average.

The 19-year-old pocketed the £35,000 top prize and has already secured his place at the European Championship finals in October. Victory there in Dortmund would see him complete the full set of major titles in under three years.

Littler has now won nine of the 14 Euro Tour events he has entered and said the victory came at the perfect time.

“It’s been a very good weekend for myself. Throughout the tournament I felt very good,” he said.

“The Premier League first three weeks I’ve not felt the best. I definitely needed this one. We can take this to Belfast on Thursday.

“His nine-darter definitely spurred me on. All weekend I’ve gone off 180 and wanted to go back-to-back to have a shot at it myself.

“When Gian hit it, in my head I was like, ‘let’s get him now’. I thought he might be a bit tired — maybe he overreacted, but he should, he’s hit a nine-darter.

“It’s just experience. People have hit nine-darters against me before. It’s a big achievement — not easy to do.

“I was like, get him while he’s still a bit overwhelmed.”

Van Veen admitted the perfect leg may actually have cost him the title.

“I wish I missed the double 12,” he said. “Of course I’m very happy to hit the nine-darter.

“I think everyone noticed in the next two or three legs, I was not good.

“I was so excited about the nine-darter — my first ever on stage. That cost me the final today.

“I would have been a lot closer. That kicked him on. That’s why he’s world No.1.

“I lost another final. I’m getting a bit tired of losing finals.”