Gian van Veen has produced history on the European Tour, averaging 120.24 to rewrite the record books with one of the greatest displays ever produced in the sport. In front of a passionate crowd at the Dutch Darts Championship, the Dutch number one battered a hapless Sebastian Bialecki 6-0 in Maastricht, leaving the fans' jaws dropping.
The numbers behind the win are ridiculous. Van Veen began with a 12-dart hold with a 77 checkout, which was the highest of the match. He backed it up with another 12-darter, this time to break. Two 13-darters propelled him into a 4-0 lead as he threatened one of the highest averages ever produced in darts. His best leg of the match, an 11-darter, moved him to the brink, and a 14-darter against the throw saw off Bialecki, who did not even get a dart at a double.
Dave Chisnall's 118.66 average at the German Darts Championship back in September 2018 was almost untouchable up to this point. That has now been shattered by almost two whole points by van Veen. "Really? 120 average? Wow!" he said after hearing the news. "Of course, you know, I knew I was playing well. A couple of 12-darters, then two 13-darters, then an 11-darter. And then, in the last leg, I wanted to hit that bull for another 12-darter. After that 180 in the last leg, I saw I was on 126. I was like, 'Just get this done in six.' I didn't, but I did it in eight. A 120 average — unbelievable."
As nice as the record is, the main thing for 'The Giant' is that he got the win on the board as he continues to search for a maiden European Tour title. "The average is nice, and it feels fantastic to have that record because Chizzy has been such a fantastic player on the European Tour for many, many years. But it's another win, and that's what matters. Tomorrow, if I average 90 and still win the game, I'm still happy. But this shows that I've still got it in the locker." He also had a message for his critics: "A lot of people were doubting me a couple of months ago. They still are, but I'm still here, and thankfully, I am."
The TV record by Michael van Gerwen stands at 123.40, and was too much for van Veen on this occasion. "I'll let Michael have that one. I love Michael, so he can have that one for now," he joked. For van Veen to produce his best ever display in front of an adoring Dutch crowd was the dream, though he admitted the crowd's reaction was perhaps a bit too much at times. "As I said, I knew the average was 126 up until then, and then I hit a 60. Even the crowd were booing me, and that doesn't happen very often when you play in the Netherlands as a Dutchman," he said. "The crowd booing you after a 60. But, you know, I loved it up here today. It felt really good, as it showed, and the crowd were fantastic."
Sometimes, this can lead to pressure, but evidently van Veen did not feel any. "Not today, no. But I've felt it over the past couple of years on the European Tour in the Netherlands. Last year, I lost on a Friday against Boris Krcmar, when he was playing for Nöbel. I played terribly because the pressure got to me." He is a different, more mature player now. "Now, I think I've grown so much as a player. I played in Rotterdam, of course, in the Premier League, then in Amsterdam for the World Series Finals, and now we're here. I don't feel there's pressure anymore. I only feel there's a boost, partly because I've grown so much in confidence over the last couple of weeks. And I think that showed today."
Brendan Dolan may have been looking at that performance with some concern. After his win over host-nation qualifier Heine Uuldriks, he will test himself against the world number three as van Veen eyes silverware.
