World Darts Championship: Gian van Veen out to point out he can rival Luke Littler as title favorite by selecting up maiden world title

Gian van Veen is within the exceptional place the place he enters the World Darts Championship as world No 7 however is but to win on the Alexandra Palace stage.

It has been a exceptional 12 months for the Dutchman, selecting up his first rating title at Gamers Championship 6 after which his first main on the European Championship towards Luke Humphries.

He then made it back-to-back World Youth Championship wins after beating Beau Greaves 6-3 in Minehead.

It’s a 12 months that has seen him race up the rankings however he’s nonetheless but to see that kind click on on the Worlds.

In his 2024 look he suffered a first-round loss to Man Lok Leung after which in 2025, it was an identical destiny within the second spherical to Ricardo Pietreczko after coming into as a seed.

Now, he’s hoping he can flip the boldness he has discovered into an actual run on the greatest match of all of them, beginning with a win over Cristo Reyes on Friday, reside on Sky Sports activities.

“I have grown so much this year as a player. The first year was heartbreak, losing to Man Lok Leung. Last year I didn’t perform at all against Ricardo Pietreczko, so I still haven’t won a game there yet,” Van Veen stated.

“But as I said, I have grown so much, I am much more confident this year. I’m really looking forward to getting back to Ally Pally to hopefully put that right, what I didn’t do the last two years.

“Hopefully have a terrific run there as effectively.”

Whereas Van Veen would clearly favor to have received beforehand on the Worlds, it’s one thing he can use to his benefit with many round him within the rankings defending important sums of cash at Alexandra Palace.

In the meantime, it’s a likelihood for him so as to add a hefty quantity and climb even additional up from world No 7.

“Of course, I’m now seventh in the world, so I think the gaps are getting bigger and bigger. But a lot of players are defending £50,000 or £100,000 around me on the rankings and I’m not,” he added.

“Maybe there’s even room to grow even further and to gain on some players on the ranking.

“It’s good to be No 7 however when you’re No 10, No 5, it would not actually matter to me. I simply need to play effectively, have deep runs in tournaments, after which the rating will present for itself.”

‘It both clicks or it would not’

How does Van Veen go about ensuring it occurs for him on the Worlds?

That could be a query he would not assume he can reply with statistics, however extra it is going to be about the way it feels on the stage and he admits that getting that first one goes to be probably the most troublesome of all of them.

“It is a difficult one, I think it clicks or it doesn’t,” Van Veen stated. “That’s what it feels for me.

“I would like to only do what I have been doing the entire 12 months, after which I am positive it’s going to click on on that stage. As quickly as I get my first win, the strain is off my shoulders, after which hopefully I can get many extra wins.

“The first one is going to be the most difficult one. Hopefully that monkey gets off my back this year, and then we’ll see where it goes.

“Individuals are in all probability going to anticipate me to get to the final 16 or quarter-finals, however for me it is simply profitable my first recreation, after which make it to Christmas, then hopefully make it into New 12 months.

“It is a big tournament, lots of weeks of darts, so I am just setting mini-goals for myself and hopefully I can achieve them.”

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