Polish Open Darts Championship: Luke Leiter wins the title despite Gian van Veen having nine quarters to go

Luke Littler won the Polish Open Darts title despite taking nine darts in the final from Gian van Veen.

World champion Littler was in devastating form as he hit seven 180s en route to an 8-4 win and the £35,000 top prize.

Van Veen, who also lost to Littler in the World Championship final, made the first ever televised nine-quarter shot, but it was in vain as the Briton averaged just over 108 to beat the Dutchman.

The victory sees Littler become the first champion in the tournament, which is the first European Tour event to be held in Poland.

“It was a very good weekend for me,” said Littler, who won his fifth European Tour title.

He added: “I felt really good throughout the tournament. In the first three weeks of the Premier League, I didn’t feel at my best, so I definitely needed that.”

“I wanted to come here and win the title and that’s what I did. Most importantly, it was about playing well, raising the average and achieving doubles.”

Littler beat Ross Smith, Josh Rock and Chris Dobie on Sunday to reach the final, while Van Veen beat Nathan Aspinall, Wessel Nyman and world number two Luke Humphries.

Van Veen took control of the match to take a 3-2 lead in the second leg when he followed up a 180 second finish with a 141 finish in a perfect nine-dart leg.

But that moment brought life to Littler, who won the next four games to take a 6-3 lead.

Van Veen showed some resistance to get his leg back, but Littler regained his composure to win the next two games in just 28 darts to seal an 8-4 victory.

The European tour will continue with the European Darts Cup on March 13 as Aspinall bids to retain his title in Göttingen.