Key Highlights
- Gian van Veen believes he poses the greatest threat to Luke Littler’s reign as world champion.
- Van Veen has secured his first World Darts Championship semi-final appearance after defeating Luke Humphries.
- The match against Gary Anderson is crucial for Van Veen’s chances of making it to the final.
- Van Veen hopes to become one of the elite players in darts by winning the tournament.
Gian van Veen Eyes Elite Status at World Darts Championship
Gian van Veen, a 23-year-old Dutch dart player, is confident he can challenge for the world title and potentially dethrone current champion Luke Littler in what promises to be an exciting World Darts Championship. Van Veen’s recent victory over Luke Humphries has lifted him into his first semi-final appearance at the prestigious event.
Van Veen’s Journey to Semi-Finals
The young Dutchman, who is currently ranked world No 3, made a statement on Thursday by defeating Luke Humphries with a commanding score of 5-1. This victory not only secured Van Veen’s spot in the semi-finals but also pushed him above Michael van Gerwen as the highest-ranked Dutch player.
Champion Gary Anderson in Next Match
Gian van Veen faces another formidable opponent, two-time champion Gary Anderson, in his next match. Should he overcome Anderson and move on to the final, Van Veen will have a chance to face either defending champion Luke Littler or Ryan Searle.
The Road Ahead for Van Veen
Van Veen expressed that true elite status can only be achieved by winning the tournament outright. While he is currently ranked world No 3 and has secured his first major semi-final, he remains focused on the next challenge. “I need to be world champion or world No 1 to become elite,” Van Veen said. “Right now, I’m just a semi-finalist, beating Humphries again in a very good game – maybe I am one of the elite players, but I wouldn’t say I’m top five in the world.”
The player admitted that he is not yet thinking about lifting the trophy. Instead, his focus remains on the match against Gary Anderson: “I haven’t started visualising lifting the trophy yet.
When you are in a semi-final, you start dreaming. It’s going to be very tricky. Anderson up next, Littler or Searle in the final. It’s not going to be easy, but if I keep performing like I did tonight, I’ve got a good chance.”
Expert Perspectives
Three-time world champion John Part praised Van Veen’s performance and believes he could challenge Anderson effectively: “He’s looking pretty good to be able to manage playing against Gary. He’s going to go in and make life really difficult for Gary, kind of like what Gary did to Justin Hood.” Wayne Mardle added that Van Veen has the potential to become a world champion: “That is a young man on the up. In two days, he could be the world champion but first he must get past Gary Anderson.”
World Darts Championship Semi-Finals
The World Darts Championship has reached its semi-final stage, with matches scheduled for Friday at 7:30 PM. The key fixtures include Luke Littler facing Ryan Searle and Gian van Veen up against Gary Anderson.
Watch the matches live on Sky Sports Darts from January 2, 2026, to secure your spot in the final events of this year’s championship.
Van Veen’s performance so far has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with. With the right mindset and continued good form, there is no doubt that he could challenge for the title against some of the sport’s biggest names.
