Gian van Veen stormed into the last 16 of the Swiss Darts Trophy on Saturday evening, needing just nine minutes in Basel to sweep aside Germany's Niko Springer 6-0. The reigning European champion was particularly sharp on the doubles, and after the match he highlighted his excellent finishing as the main reason behind his convincing victory.
The second day of the Swiss Darts Trophy produced several surprises, with no fewer than ten seeded players eliminated, but Van Veen had no trouble dealing with his opponent. The Dutchman was highly effective from the outset and gave Springer barely any chance to fight his way into the match. Van Veen opened with two consecutive 107 checkouts, converting both through double 16. The absolute highlight came in the fourth leg, when the European champion produced a superb 164 finish via the bullseye.
Although the result suggested otherwise, Van Veen felt there was not a significant difference between the two players in scoring. According to the Dutchman, the decisive moments came when the doubles had to be hit. "I finished really well," Van Veen said after his convincing victory. "There wasn't much between us in the scoring department, but in the fifth leg Niko missed a couple of chances, I took mine and I think that was the story of the match."
Springer had two chances in that fifth leg to get on the scoreboard, but missed tops and double 10. Van Veen immediately capitalised before also closing out the final leg. The emphatic victory has secured the Dutchman a place on the final day of the Swiss Darts Trophy. Van Veen will return to action on Sunday at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, where he will continue his pursuit of another title.
