World Darts Championship: Is it Gian van Veen’s time to shine at Alexandra Palace?

If you happen to rewind to 2023, Gian van Veen entered the World Youth closing, only a month out from the World Championship, as favorite. In that closing he misplaced to a sure Luke Littler.

After all, nobody may have predicted the meteoric rise the 17-year-old then went on, however for 22-year-old van Veen it has additionally been a yr of regular progress, making it to the quarter-finals on the Grand Slam, the final 32 of the World Grand Prix and the final 16 of the UK Open.

Then, in Minehead, he lastly gained that elusive World Youth Championship title when he defeated fellow Dutchman Jurjen van der Velde 6-5 in a dramatic encounter.

With that vast title and confidence below his belt, Van Veen can replicate on the final yr with loads of positivity even when his fellow youth star has taken loads of the highlight.

“Yeah, I think both of our careers have gone upwards since then. I think his [Littler’s], of course, way more than mine. But I think that’s okay,” Van Veen mentioned.

“I simply take my time. I simply need to do my profession. After all, he is doing phenomenal at profitable titles, particularly on TV, but it surely’s not one thing I am evaluating myself to.

“I believe none of us can actually evaluate to that. I used to be the favorite going into the ultimate final yr, however we each had fairly profitable years.

“Last year I made the semi-final of the European Championship, and I put maybe extra pressure on myself in the World Championship.

“I need to present everybody what I can do as effectively. However now it is not the primary time “

It’s not misplaced on Van Veen simply how particular the World Championship is, admitting he had “goosebumps” when arriving for his debut final yr.

Regardless of shedding 3-2 to Man Lok Leung within the first spherical, with expertise of the largest stage now below his belt, Van Veen is heading to Ally Pally prepared to indicate simply how gifted he’s.

“I’ll hopefully do well in the World Championship. Ally Pally is a special place. When I walked in last year, I got goosebumps,” he added.

“Driving up the hill was fantastic in itself. Of course, my World Championship didn’t go as planned, but I’m just really looking forward to being back this year, and hopefully it’ll be better than last year.

“But it surely’s the second time, so I do know what to anticipate from the stage, from the apply space, from the gang, and the lodge, every thing round it.

“So I think I’ll be a lot calmer this year, and it should be a very good tournament. People say, with the Worlds, it’s just getting through that first match.

“I need to win my first sport. That is the principle purpose for this yr after which we’ll see the way it goes, take it sport by sport. I believe if I make the final 16, or perhaps even quarter-final, I will be very pleased. Very proud of that.”

When will the World Darts Championship happen?

The match will get below means at Alexandra Palace on Sunday December 15, with three first-round matches and one second-round match on the opening night.

There can be stay darts over every of the next eight days, together with seven afternoon classes, with the same old three-day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day earlier than returning with the third spherical and a double session on December 27.

The third and fourth rounds can be accomplished by December 30 earlier than an evening off on New 12 months’s Eve, with the quarter-finals held throughout two classes on New 12 months’s Day forward of the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday January 3.

The complete day-by-day schedule for this yr’s match may be discovered right here.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match completely stay from December 15-January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.