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Gian van Veen has admitted he is “pinching himself” at the thought of facing Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final, just years after dart left him questioning his future in the sport.
The world junior champion completed an Alexandra Palace classic to defeat Gary Anderson 6-3 and secure a place in the final against Littler, who is aiming to become only the fourth player in history to successfully defend the world title.
Van Veen’s impressive haul follows a first televised title at the European Championship in October, lifting him to compatriot Michael van Gerwen’s career world No. 3 and above, with the 23-year-old now looking to become only the third Dutchman to win the Sid Waddell Trophy.
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Van Veen will face Littler in the final after beating Anderson in an Ally Pally thriller!
He has previously suffered from darts, a condition which affects the release of the dart, and Van Veen – who is also color blind – is proud to have overcome his past problems to reach the biggest match of his career to date.
“Three or four years ago I was at Barnsley, struggling with darts and crying at the table,” Van Veen said. told Sky Sports after his victory over Anderson. “Now look at me, four years later, it was all worth it!
“All the people who work so hard for me – even my parents when I was 12, 13, they used to drive me to all my tournaments all over the Netherlands and here we are, amazing.
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Anderson and Van Veen both hit the Big Fish in a crazy game of darts at Ally Pally!
“I suffered from darts for many years. I got it about four years ago, just before I got my tour card. Even back then, when I didn’t have problems, I never thought this would happen.
“Being in a World Championship final isn’t even a dream come true because I wasn’t able to dream it, but now it’s happened. I’m so happy.”
Van Veen lost to Littler in the 2023 World Junior Championship final before winning the event each of the next two years, although he beat “The Nuke” in three of their five meetings in 2025.
“I’m still pinching myself and I’m still moving forward in the tournament, so I won’t stop pinching myself,” Van Veen added during his press conference. “I’m playing so well this tournament.
“I think my lowest average was around 97, 98, so I feel really good on this stage, especially in these kinds of formats as well. Today was a very, very long match, but with an average of 103, and the checkout percentage is also very good.
“It gives me a lot of confidence, of course. Luke Littler is waiting and everyone knows what he’s capable of, so I have to bring out my best game. Otherwise it’s going to be a very, very difficult match.”
On the challenge he expects against Littler, who joins Phil Taylor as the only players to qualify for the final in each of their first three appearances at the PDC World Championship, Van Veen added: “Very difficult, because he will put you under pressure from the first set.
“So hopefully I’ll take my chance, follow him in terms of goalscoring, because he’s probably the better scorer than me. I just need to follow, take my chance and then I’ll have a chance.”
Why Van Veen is a “world-class operator”
Wayne Mardle from Sky Sports Darts:
“Last year Van Veen went to bingo. He and Wessel Nijman were neck and neck, but winning this European Championship like he did, Nijman must be thinking that if I can do something similar, I can go.
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Wayne Mardle previews the World Darts Championship final between Littler and Van Veen
“Van Veen showed he can do it under pressure and that’s what makes a world-class operator. He has to do it all again. [against Littler]. It was captivating, it was everything you want from professional sports from start to finish. Some standards were just ridiculous.
“He who loses [Van Veen or Littler]It doesn’t matter whether it’s the best fate of their lives or not. It’s just about continuing and starting again.
“We had been saying that Littler and (Luke) Humphries would be in all these finals for years. We didn’t see that happening. But since October, when Van Veen won the European Championship, he will be the one to challenge Luke Littler.
“It’s an exciting time for darts.”
Who will win the World Darts Championship? Watch the final live on Saturday from 7.30pm on Sky Sports Darts. Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.
