Van Veen Shocks Ally Pally as Humphries Crashes Out of World Championship
If there was one moment that truly shook the World Darts Championship in 2026, it was the night Gian van Veen announced himself on the sport’s biggest stage. While much of the attention heading into the quarter-finals was fixed on Luke Littler’s march toward another final, the biggest talking point ended up being Luke Humphries’ stunning exit at the hands of the rising Dutch star.
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A huge three-dart average north of 105 was recorded, along with heavy scoring and clinical finishing. Big checkouts landed at key moments, and any chance of a Humphries comeback was quietly shut down. It was the kind of display that doesn’t look flashy for the sake of it, but one that sends a clear message to the rest of the field. By the end of the night, it was being said that Van Veen had risen provisionally to world number three, overtaking even Michael van Gerwen to become the highest-ranked Dutch player in the game.
What made the result even more significant was the growing pattern behind it. Humphries had already been beaten by Van Veen multiple times during 2025, including a high-profile defeat in the European Championship final. This quarter-final win didn’t feel like a fluke; it felt like the continuation of a changing dynamic at the top of the sport. Even Van Veen himself admitted afterward that this might now stand as the biggest win of his career.
While Littler cruised through his own quarter-final amid a largely supportive crowd, the tournament’s balance was clearly altered by Humphries’ exit. Van Veen now moves on to face two-time champion Gary Anderson in the semi-finals, carrying momentum, confidence, and the sense that a new contender has truly arrived.
At Ally Pally, moments like this are remembered for years. And for Gian van Veen, this wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement that the future of darts may already be knocking on the door.
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