Dutch darts star smacks into bathroom wall, still manages to take down Littler in German Grand Prix

By Lewis Barnett 22 April, 2025 5 mins read 61 Views

You can't make this stuff up. Seriously. I was watching the German Grand Prix coverage yesterday when the commentators dropped this gem about Gian van Veen walking straight into a toilet wall before his match. Like, full-on collision. And then the guy goes on to beat Luke Littler? Darts is wild in 2025.

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When Nature Calls... Watch Out for Walls

So here's what happened. The Dutch youngster Van Veen was up in the players' room between matches when he apparently exited the men's room and BAM—walked directly into some pointy bit of wall. Not the smooth career move you'd expect from a rising star.

Commentator Dan Dawson couldn't help but laugh while explaining the situation: "About halfway through the previous game, up in the players' room, Gian came out of the gents' toilet and walked straight into a wall. There's a sharp, pointy bit on the wall that really did leave its mark on him."

Apparently Van Veen tried to play it cool at the time, telling people, "Don't worry, it felt worse than it is. I'm fine." Classic understatement.

But the cameras don't lie. Throughout his quarter-final against Ross Smith, he kept rubbing his right arm between throws. You could literally see him wincing and throwing his arm around after walking back from teh board. Not ideal when precision is your whole job.

From Bathroom Bruises to Beating Littler

Despite his impromptu wall encounter, Van Veen crushed Ross Smith 6-3 in the quarters with a 97.5 average. He started like a house on fire, racing to a 4-0 lead before Smith clawed back to 4-2.

I honestly thought his injury might derail him.

But the real shocker came in the semi-final. This bathroom-bruised 22-year-old somehow ended Luke Littler's eight-match unbeaten streak on the European Tour. Not just won—dominated. We're talking a 110 average with two ton-plus checkouts against the teen sensation everyone's been raving about for months.

That 128 checkout to stop Littler's momentum? Pure class. Reminded me of watching Phil Taylor back in 2018 when I spent $300 on tickets to see him in his farewell tour. Worth every penny.

The Giant vs. The Green Machine

Van Veen (nicknamed "The Giant" which feels a bit on-the-nose given his height) couldn't quite complete the fairytale in Munich though. His Dutch compatriot Michael van Gerwen proved too strong in the final, coming through 8-5.

Listen. This kid's already claimed his first ProTour title earlier this year after winning Players Championship Six. He's world #23 and climbing fast.

His post-match comments were gracious but you could feel the disappointment: "I've had a phenomenal three days. Neither of us played our best game in the final. I played well on my own legs, but on Michael's throw I didn't perform, and he was the deserved winner."

What's next for our bathroom wall survivor?

This was Van Veen's second European Tour final appearance... which is pretty impressive for someone who apparently needs to work on his spatial awareness around restrooms.

"I'm a bit gutted to lose, but I'm really happy with second place, and hopefully my first European Tour title is coming soon!" he added.

If I were him, I'd be asking tournament organizers for padded walls near all bathrooms from now on. Or maybe just a helmet. Safety first, championships second.

Poor guy. Though if walking into walls is his pre-game ritual for beating Littler, who am I to judge?

Frequently Asked Questions

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

Is it worth spending more money on expensive darts?

The question of dart investment really depends on your commitment level and budget. You don't need to spend a fortune, but there's definitely a quality threshold worth crossing.

How often should I replace my dartboard?

A quality sisal dartboard should last anywhere from 1-3 years with regular play, though this varies dramatically based on usage and care. Professional-grade boards like Winmau Blade 5 or Target Unicorn typically outlast budget options by a significant margin.

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

What's the difference between steel tip and soft tip darts?

Steel tip and soft tip darts represent two distinct branches of the sport, each with their own equipment, venues, and sometimes even scoring systems. The most obvious difference is in the point: steel tips have metal points for traditional bristle boards, while soft tips use flexible plastic points for electronic boards.

Statistics

Phil Taylor has hit a record 22 televised nine-dart finishes throughout his professional career.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
A professional dart weighs between 18-50 grams, with most players preferring 21-24 gram darts.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship has been held since 1994, with Phil Taylor winning a record 14 titles.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
A standard dartboard is divided into 20 numbered sections, with the bullseye at the center worth 50 points.

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Common Problems & How I Fixed Them

Inconsistent grouping was my biggest issue for years. The solution? I recorded my throw in slow motion and noticed I was dropping my elbow at different heights. Once I fixed that, my grouping tightened up immediately.