From dartitis to world final – Van Veen ‘pinching himself’ at Littler showdown
Gian van Veen expressed that he is “pinching himself” at the thought of competing against Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final, only a few years after dartitis had him doubting his future in the game. The reigning youth champion emerged victorious from a classic encounter at Alexandra Palace, defeating Gary Anderson 6-3 to secure his spot in the final against Littler, who is striving to become just the fourth player in history to defend the world title successfully.
Van Veen’s remarkable journey follows a first TV-ranked title at the European Championship in October, propelling him to a career-best world No 3, surpassing compatriot Michael van Gerwen. The 23-year-old is now eager to become only the third Dutchman to claim the Sid Waddell Trophy.
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Van Veen will meet Littler in the final after triumphing over Anderson in a nerve-wracking Ally Pally showdown!
He has faced challenges with dartitis, a condition that interferes with releasing the dart, and Van Veen—who is also colorblind—is proud to have moved past his struggles to arrive at the biggest match of his life so far. “Three or four years ago, I was in Barnsley, battling with darts and crying at the table,” Van Veen told Sky Sports following his win over Anderson. “And now look at me four years down the line – everything has been worth it!
“All the people who worked so hard for me—even my parents when I was 12, 13 years old—they would drive me to every tournament throughout the Netherlands, and here we are, it’s unbelievable.
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Anderson and Van Veen both hit the Big Fish in an extraordinary set of darts at Ally Pally!
“I dealt with dartitis for many years. I was experiencing it about four years ago, right before I got my tour card. Even back then, during my struggles, I never thought something like this would happen.
“To find myself in a World Championship final isn’t even a dream come true since I couldn’t envision this, but now that it’s happened, I’m ecstatic.”
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Van Veen lost to Littler in the World Youth Championship final in 2023 but went on to win the event the next two successive years, although he bested ‘The Nuke’ in three of their five encounters during 2025. “I’m still pinching myself, and I keep advancing deeper into the tournament, so I won’t stop pinching myself,” Van Veen added during his press conference. “My performance in this tournament has been exceptional. I think my lowest average was around 97, 98, so I feel really good on that stage, especially in these formats. Today was an incredibly lengthy match, yet I still averaged 103, along with a solid checkout percentage.
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“This boosts my confidence tremendously, of course. Luke Littler awaits, and everyone knows his capabilities, so I must bring my A game. If not, it could be a very challenging match.” Regarding the challenge he anticipates against Littler, who is alongside Phil Taylor as the only players to reach the final in their first three PDC World Championship appearances, Van Veen commented: “It’s going to be very tough, as he’ll apply pressure from set one.
“Hopefully, I will seize my chances and keep pace with his scoring, as he’s likely a better scorer than I am. I simply need to maintain my game, capitalize on my opportunities, and then I’ll be in with a shot.”
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Why Van Veen is a ‘world-class operator’Sky Sports Darts’ Wayne Mardle:”Over the past year, Van Veen has truly excelled. He and Wessel Nijman were neck and neck, but by winning the European Championship as he did, Nijman must feel that if he can replicate something similar, he can blaze a trail.
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Wayne Mardle analyzes the World Darts Championship final between Littler and Van Veen
“Van Veen has demonstrated that he can perform under pressure, which is what defines a world-class competitor. He has to replicate that again (against Littler). It was riveting, everything one desires from sportsmanship from beginning to end. The caliber of play exhibited was simply outrageous.”Regardless of who loses (Van Veen or Littler), it doesn’t change whether it’s the pinnacle of their life or not. It’s simply about continuing on and trying again.”We mentioned Littler and (Luke) Humphries would be fixtures in finals for years ahead. This outcome wasn’t anticipated. However, since October, when Van Veen clinched the European Championship, he has emerged as the contender to challenge Luke Littler.”Exciting times lie ahead for darts.”Who will emerge victorious in the World Darts Championship? Watch the final live on Saturday from 7:30 pm on Sky Sports Darts. Stream darts and other top sports with NOW.
Published: 2026-01-03 00:15:00
source: www.skysports.com
