Gian van Veen will become the latest Dutch star to grace the famous Alexandra Palace stage this year, following a breakthrough campaign that has seen him tipped for future stardom.
Van Veen has been one of the sport’s stand-out performers in 2023, landing six Winmau Development Tour titles and producing a series of devastating displays on the PDC ProTour to underline his credentials.
The 21-year-old has also delivered on the big stage, defeating his compatriot Michael van Gerwen to progress to the European Championship semi-finals on debut, in just his third PDC premier televised event.
The young Dutchman has combined his darting exploits with his university studies in 2023, having submitted his thesis on the same day he progressed to the Winmau World Youth Championship final in August.
“I am really proud of what I’ve achieved,” reflected Van Veen, who graduated with a Bachelor's degree in aviation.
“If someone had said I will achieve what I have achieved, I would probably have laughed in their face!
“Of course I have had some setbacks, but it’s been a really positive season and hopefully it will continue in 2024.”
Van Veen has enjoyed a flying start to his PDC career, and he's poised to break into the world's top 40 following the conclusion of this year's Alexandra Palace showpiece.
It would cap off a remarkable rise for the emerging Dutchman, who has twice battled through dartitis to establish himself as one of the game’s most exciting talents.
“I had some games where I was almost in tears because I couldn’t release my dart,” recalls Van Veen, reflecting on his struggles two years ago.
“It was a struggle and I didn’t look forward to playing, because it cost so much energy, and when I was playing, I felt all those eyes on me.
“I was still hitting consistent averages though. On the Challenge Tour, I made quarter-finals, semi-finals, and I even won a Challenge Tour and Development Tour title with dartitis.
“I felt guilty for disrupting my opponents, but I kept winning and my confidence kept growing because I was winning, so in a certain way, it probably helped my career.”
Van Veen, who hails from the village of Poederoijen, showed promise as a footballer before choosing to focus on darts, and it’s a decision that has paid dividends.
The unassuming youngster only secured his PDC Tour Card in January, and admits it’s been a dream come true to compete alongside his darting idols over the last 12 months.
“My main idol was Gary Anderson, because when I started playing darts in 2011 and 2012 he was winning titles, and it looked so effortless,” continued Van Veen.
“It was really a joy to watch him, but of course I’m Dutch, so you had Michael van Gerwen, and Raymond van Barneveld had just won the Grand Slam, so they were good years.
“The first time I walked into the ProTour, I was like: ‘Wow, they’re all here!’ It was a bit surreal, but I immediately switched on and was like: ‘You’re one of the boys now.’
“It is always special to show those players that you’ve been watching for years what you can do, and I’ve beaten most of the top players now, apart from Gerwyn Price!”
Since his breakthrough at the European Championship, Van Veen has lost five of his last six matches on the big stage, with four of those defeats seeing his opponents register ton-plus averages.
This included a defeat to teenage sensation Luke Littler in last month’s World Youth Championship decider, where 16-year-old Littler averaged 102 and crashed in seven 180s to clinch the title.
However, Van Veen will be hoping to return to winning ways when he makes his Paddy Power World Darts Championship debut against Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung on December 18.
The winner will progress to a second round tie against last year’s semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens, although Van Veen is refusing to look too far ahead.
“I have never been to Alexandra Palace before, because I always said I’m not going until I’ve played on that stage,” revealed the 21-year-old.
“It will be amazing. I am really looking forward to walking through those doors for the first time.
“I think I’ve got that experience now of playing on the stage and everything that comes with it, so I will take it in my stride and we will see how it goes at the World Championship.”