Gian van Veen's long-awaited Premier League Darts debut at Rotterdam Ahoy turned into a bitter disappointment as he suffered a 6-2 defeat to Luke Humphries on Night 11. The Dutchman, who had dreamed of this homecoming for years after watching as a fan a decade ago, admitted his performance was far below the standard he expects, bluntly stating: "It's not Premier League-worthy." Van Veen averaged 93 in the match but lamented his scoring power, saying, "This has been my level lately. Scoring-wise it's not good enough. That frustrates me. I'm working hard, but it's not paying off yet."
The slump appears linked to physical issues, as Van Veen missed the night in Dublin a few weeks ago due to surgery for kidney stones. Since returning, he has lost his opening match in three of four league nights. He sees a clear connection, noting, "It's been happening for a number of weeks now; since the surgery it hasn't improved." Despite the setback, he reflected on the experience positively, telling Viaplay, "It was great to experience and it's a memory that will always stay with me," though he acknowledged it wasn't a pleasant one.
Van Veen's self-critical assessment underscores his ambition to make a mark in the Premier League, not just participate. "It hurts me a lot. When you get an invitation to the Premier League, you want to show everything and show your best game," he said. He added that while the first weeks went well, recent performances have declined, but he remains determined: "I'll keep fighting. I'll keep doing my best and it will be fine." With the competition entering its decisive phase, he feels urgency, stating, "I'm giving myself time, but it really is time for things to get better."
