Gian van Veen is set for an emotionally charged Premier League Darts night in Rotterdam at the Ahoy arena, a venue he once visited as a young fan. Now returning as the highest-ranked Dutch player in the world, Van Veen described the occasion as "extra special," noting he felt "no nerves at all right now, just excitement," though he anticipates nerves will set in about 20 minutes before his match. He reflected on his journey from spectator to contender, stating, "To now be on that stage, it doesn't get more special."
Sporting stakes are high as Van Veen remains in the playoff hunt, despite recent form fluctuations and physical setbacks from kidney stone problems. He admitted, "I'm not fully at 100%... I still lack a bit of energy," and estimated the issue cost him "two or even three weeks" of peak performance. His upcoming match against Luke Humphries is crucial, as Humphries is only one point behind him. Van Veen emphasized, "My goal is to get to the O2, so it's a big game."
Van Veen also addressed the ongoing fallout from an incident with Luke Littler, stating, "I don't have any ill feelings towards him, but I don't know how it is from his side." He added that if Littler wants to "bury the hatchet, that's fine," and he stands by his previous comments. On his status as the top Dutch player, Van Veen deferred to Michael van Gerwen, saying, "On rankings I'm number one, but I still feel like Michael is the Dutch number one because of everything he's achieved."
Expecting strong support from the Dutch crowd in Rotterdam, Van Veen acknowledged the added pressure, noting he hasn't always played his best in the Netherlands. He also commented on hostile crowd reactions, having experienced booing in Cardiff, Manchester, and Belfast, saying, "Booing is part of the game now... but whistling is worse." He advised not to take such reactions personally, attributing them to fan loyalty or betting interests.
