NEW European champion Gian van Veen nearly quit due to dartitis – but now he is a dark horse for the £1million World Championship jackpot.
Van Veen, 23, is one of the hottest prospects on the oche but his rise has been overshadowed by the younger, the reigning world conqueror.
Gian van Veen has given a frank summary of his troubles in dartsCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The new European Champion admitted he almost dropped out of the sport
The Dutchman – who has a Bachelor’s degree in aviation and used to work full-time for an air-cargo firm –
, in which he survived match darts and overcame a bloody hand injury, banked him £120,000 and placed a major title next to his name for the first time.
apart from the two Lukes, Littler and .
Yet there was a period when he could not let go of the darts properly and suffered a mental block.
It is what Eric Bristow famously had – like the yips in golf – and Van Veen was close to walking away for good.
You could see the impact in the final over the weekend when he “took more time on the double 16” and there are often instances when he will pause before the release of his equipment.
He said: “When I struggled with dartitis I nearly quit . I felt like I didn’t want to play anymore.
“I kept on going and at this moment I am really happy I did because I could have had an office job every day from 9-5.
“But here I am and it’s a struggle having dartitis. I know what it’s like.
“I think winning games and getting confidence is what helped me get through it.
“It’s been a massive road but I am lucky I’m still playing darts.”
Van Veen, now up to seventh in the world, has been tipped for a potential Premier League call up next year after an impressive 2025 campaign.
And he is someone who might get a ton of bets from punters going into the next, which is now a 128-player field and has a seven-figure pound sum for the champion at Ally Pally on January 3, 2026.
Van Veen added: “I’m always happy to be in contention for the Premier League.
“If everybody is mentioning my name then I am already happy.
When I struggled with dartitis I nearly quit darts. I felt like I didn’t want to play anymore.
Gian van Veen
“As soon as I get the invite I will definitely accept it. Only eight players are allowed to play.
“There are so many players before me but as long as I keep putting in these performances then who knows.”
Van Veen is the reigning World Youth Champ – he lost the 2023 final to Littler – and he will try to defend his title against Beau Greaves, the leading female thrower, next month at Butlins Minehead.
He continued: “I’ve been showing my form on the Euro Tour all year.
“Whenever I lost a game it was always a high-quality game.
“I never disappointed myself in regard to dropping my average below 90.
“I always knew this was in the locker but of course to do it on TV and at the European Championship shows everyone what I am capable of.
“So, who knows — maybe a big stage title is just around the corner.”
