Gian van Veen insists he, Luke Littler and darts’ younger stars are able to take over the game, regardless of falling brief in his bid for a maiden World Darts Championship title.
The world youth champion’s spectacular run to the Alexandra Palace last was ended by a dominant show by Littler, who turned simply the fourth participant to efficiently defend the title by cruising to a 7-1 victory.
Van Veen’s runner-up end follows his European Championship success in October, lifting him to a career-high of world No 3 and seeing him overtake Michael van Gerwen because the highest-ranked participant from the Netherlands.
The ultimate was a repeat of the 2023 World Youth Championship last and was the most recent instalment in a rising rivalry between the 2 younger stars, with Van Veen assured the brand new wave of gamers can proceed to get pleasure from success.
“With us two [Van Veen and Littler], Josh Rock and Wessel Nijman, the young boys are here,” Van Veen advised Sky Sports activities. “We are attempting to take over the [old] guard.
“He [Littler] has done it so far. Even Luke Humphries is a young guy. This game is for the young players and we are here to show how it’s done.”
Littler’s victory over Van Veen sees him transfer 4-3 forward of the Dutchman of their head-to-head match-up at PDC occasions, whereas Van Veen’s rise into the world’s high 4 ensures him a Premier League debut and extra showdowns with {the teenager}.
“We are always going to have battles on the Pro Tour, Euro Tour, majors – everything!” Littler added.
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Van Veen defined why the board needed to be modified in the course of the World Championship last
“Obviously now he’s number three in the world and if he stays there, and I stay number one, we might come back here in the final again in 2027 – you never know!
“We’ll play so many instances and he is aware of he is within the Premier League, so we’ll battle week in, week out.”
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Van Veen reacts to shedding the ultimate and pays tribute to Littler’s efficiency
Van Veen: I did not give Luke a recreation!
Littler – who posted a 106.02 common and fired 16 maximums within the last – recovered from shedding the opening set to take the subsequent in a final-leg decider, earlier than profitable 15 of the subsequent 17 legs to race to an emphatic victory.
“The scoring tonight wasn’t my greatest game of the tournament,” Van Veen admitted, regardless of averaging slightly below 100 and producing 4 ton-plus finishes. “Up to now couple of video games I took out all my possibilities, however in the present day I did not.
“Luke wasn’t in the mood to give me any more chances. He played phenomenal. He put me under pressure in every leg, every set and I missed too many chances to make it even a game.
“He [Littler] is a incredible participant – that is why he is the world primary by a margin now and that is why he mentioned back-to-back world champion.
“I’d have appreciated to have lifted up the title, however I’d have appreciated to have given Luke a recreation. That is what I did not do. I misplaced too many legs the place I used to be concerned and I missed too many possibilities.
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Wayne Mardle says ‘you simply by no means know when it ends, which is why that is so particular’ as he displays on Littler’s back-to-back World Darts Championship titles
“But back at this tournament, I’m very proud to be getting even to the final. I’m number three in the world now and Dutch No 1, so I’m very proud of myself, but obviously I’m disappointed with the result today.”
Extra to come back from Van Veen?
Van Veen described the previous 12 months as the very best of his darting profession, only a few years after dartitus – a situation that impacts the discharge of the dart – left him beforehand questioning his future within the sport.
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Van Veen took out these incredible finishes within the second set of the World Championship last, however nonetheless ended up shedding the set to Littler!
“This is just the start for Gian,” former world champion Mark Webster advised Sky Sports activities. “He will be disappointed [to finish runner-up] but he’s played some good stuff.
“He hadn’t received a recreation at Alexandra Palace in his earlier two makes an attempt right here and now received to the ultimate – he is attaining a lot.
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A have a look at the response Van Veen obtained from the Alexandra Palace crowd forward of the World Championship last
“He will be playing a lot more darts this year so there are different challenges for him. He will have to manage the schedule because he’s a hungry player and will relish it.”
What’s subsequent?
Van Veen and Littler be a part of Humphries and Michael van Gerwen because the 4 computerized qualifiers for the 2026 Premier League season, with the remaining 4 names set to be revealed on Monday afternoon.
That announcement will probably be made stay on Sky Sports activities Information at 3.30pm, with the format of the eight-player competitors remaining unchanged this season. The opening evening is in Newcastle on February 5, with each week stay on Sky Sports activities. Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.
