Dutch darts player Gian van Veen was unable to make his dream of a first PDC World Championship title a reality on Saturday night, losing 7-1 to English teenager Luke Littler in the final.

“It is difficult to have lost, especially by 7-1,” said Van Veen after the game at Alexandra Palace in London. “I can get angry and frustrated but the better man won.”

Van Veen won the first set and gave Littler a tough time in the second but had nothing more to give as the competition progressed. Nevertheless, he picked up 400,000 pounds sterling in prize money.

The match had been dubbed the “youngest final ever”, given the combined age of the two participants was just 41.

If he had won, Van Veen would have come home one million pounds sterling richer and would have been the third Dutch PDC world champion ever, after Michael van Gerwen (2014, 2017, 2019) and Raymond van Barneveld (2007).