“€375,000? It didn’t cost that - What it’s really worth, I could’ve paid in cash” – Gian van Veen laughs off Van der Voort’s remark about cost of new Audi
For Gian van Veen, the World Matchplay marks a crucial phase of the season. The world number three endured a difficult spell after his impressive World Championship final earlier this year, with results dipping and confidence taking a hit. In Blackpool, the 24-year-old Dutchman hopes to rediscover the right feeling before a busy summer gets underway.
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Whereas in previous years Van Veen could enjoy a long holiday after the World Matchplay, things are very different now. As a world-class player, he is now a fixture at major televised tournaments and the lucrative World Series. That means a much fuller schedule, though the darter has no complaints about that.
“I spent a few days in Sardinia and before the World Series trip to Australia I’m going to Greece for six days with my girlfriend,” Van Veen told Sportnieuws.nl. “Normally August was my holiday month while the rest went to the World Series. Now I get to go myself.”
Although proper holiday weeks have become scarce, Van Veen still tries to find as much downtime as possible during the long trips. “It’s no hardship at all to make those trips. I make the most of it there too. I’ll enjoy a bit of a holiday and in between I just have to throw a few darts now and then.”
After a first half of the season in which he openly admitted struggling with form and confidence, Van Veen sees the World Matchplay as an important barometer. The Dutch ace reached the World Championship final earlier this year, but couldn’t maintain that level afterwards. He recently stated that it wasn’t his physical condition but mainly a lack of confidence and the pressure of playing as a world-class performer that contributed to his dip in results.
Extra comfort
To stay fresh during a hectic travel schedule, Van Veen has also treated himself to a bit of extra comfort. A few months ago he bought a new car, something that drew plenty of attention within the darts world. There were even stories going around that the vehicle cost as much as 375,000 euros.
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Van Veen can laugh about that now. “It didn’t cost that. What it’s really worth, I could’ve paid in cash. But I didn’t do that; we came to a nice deal. I’m leasing it now. It drives great, I’ve got enough trips to Schiphol and I’m taking it to the Euro Tours in Germany as well.”
Gian van Veen is the current world number three
Tough test against Ratajski
In the first round of the World Matchplay, a Sunday evening clash awaits against the experienced Pole Krzysztof Ratajski. Strikingly, that match will be played at the same time as the World Cup final, although Van Veen does not expect that to bother him.
“If the Netherlands were playing, I’d be distracted. But Spain-Argentina now, I’m fine with that. If I win quickly, I might still catch the second half. I’m glad my match hasn’t been moved for it. There will probably be fewer people watching me on TV, but I think the arena will still be nicely full.”
For Van Veen, however, Blackpool is about much more than viewing figures. After a tough half-year, he wants to show why he still belongs among the absolute elite. A strong run at the World Matchplay could be exactly the boost he needs to head into the rest of his busy season with renewed confidence.
If Van Veen gets through the first round of the World Matchplay, he will face the winner of the tie between Wessel Nijman and Dave Chisnall in the last 16.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.