Gian van Veen believes he now poses the best problem to Luke Littler’s reign as world champion after surging right into a maiden Alexandra Palace semi-final.
The 23-year-old’s 5-1 demolition of 2024 champion Luke Humphries in Thursday’s quarter-final booked his ticket to solely his third main semi-final, the place Gary Anderson lies in wait.
Beat the two-time world champion and Van Veen will safe a shot at glory in Saturday’s ultimate in opposition to both defending champion Luke Littler or Ryan Searle.
Requested whether or not he thought he was the closest participant to Littler, Van Veen stated: “Left in the tournament? Then yes.
“I do not know, to be trustworthy. If I play like I did [against Humphries] then possibly. I’ve crushed him a few occasions on the European Tour, gave him a superb sport on the World Grand Prix, however he stood as much as it and performed phenomenally.
“I know I can give him a game, but to beat him, especially on the biggest stage of all, is going to be tough. But if I keep performing, I can definitely give him a good game.”
Van Veen: World title secures elite standing
The emphatic victory over Humphries lifted Van Veen, the reigning World Youth and European champion, as much as No 3 on this planet and noticed him overtake Michael van Gerwen as Dutch No 1.
Van Veen admitted true elite standing may solely be secured by profitable the event outright – an end result he was not but specializing in, given the menace posed by Anderson in Friday’s semi-final.
“I need to be world champion or world No 1 to become elite,” he stated.
“Right now, world No 3, semi-finalist, beating Humphries again in a very good game – okay, maybe I’m one of the elite players in the sport, but I wouldn’t say I’m top five in the world.
“I am feeling actually good and know that if I play like I did in the present day I can beat anybody. It is simply on me to point out that sport after sport, like elite gamers do.”
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Van Veen hits a 170 checkout in opposition to Humphries
He added: “I haven’t started visualising lifting the trophy yet. When you are in a semi-final, you start dreaming.
“It should be very tough. Anderson up subsequent, Littler or Searle within the ultimate. It is not going to be simple, but when I preserve performing like I did tonight, I’ve acquired a superb likelihood.”
‘It’s Van Veen’s time’
Van Veen averaged 105.41, hit 11 180s and produced a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to blow Humphries away on Thursday night, delivering a performance that left the Sky Sports pundits in no doubt about his tournament-winning potential.
“We simply preserve listening to all these positives he is acquired going, however it simply makes you suppose and marvel what’s subsequent,” said three-time world champion John Part.
“What’s subsequent is to win the world title, clearly the largest prize of all. He is trying fairly good to have the ability to handle enjoying in opposition to Gary Anderson.
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Van Veen reacts to his victory in opposition to Humphries
“He’s going to go in and make life really difficult for Gary, kind of like what Gary did to Justin Hood.
“What goes round comes round – it is his time. I do not suppose he will relent in opposition to Anderson; he shall be within the ultimate.”
“That may be a younger man on the up,” said Wayne Mardle. “He is already the European champion. In two days, he might be the world champion, however first he should get previous Gary Anderson.
“It really was a display fit for someone who may go on to be world champion.”
World Darts Championship semi-finals on Sky
The World Darts Championship has reached the semi-final stage.
Watch Luke Littler tackle Ryan Searle and Gary Anderson face Gian van Veen for a spot within the ultimate dwell on Sky Sports activities Darts on Friday from 7.30pm.
Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely dwell till January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel (Sky channel 407). Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.
