"All the pressure is on him" - Gian van Veen sends warning out to 'scared' Luke Littler ahead of World Grand Prix clash

Gian van Veen has been ridiculously unlucky with his recent opening round draws. After facing off against world number one Luke Humphries in round one of the World Matchplay, he is set to lock horns with Luke Littler in the World Grand Prix, a task that he is not daunted by.

Despite this challenging start, he stated that he is happy to get Littler out of the way now, with the shorter format in the early stages along with his doubling strength giving him a golden opportunity to muster up another shock round one result.

"I already found the draws at the majors difficult last year. Back then, I thought and hoped it would be better in 2025, but so far, it hasn't been," van Veen said on the Darts Draait Door podcast. "On the other hand, I'd rather have Littler in the first round than later in the tournament. I have a better chance of beating him in such a short format early on than when the matches are longer and the tournament is more advanced. The doubles are my strength, so I definitely have a chance.

"I hope he's scared, but I don't think so. I would have preferred someone else, but I think he probably is too. All the pressure is on him."

Van Veen has remarkably already made two Euro Tour finals, showing off his talent. However, both times he ran into a rampant Michael van Gerwen, who proved to be a step too far in both scenarios. The prior event in Switzerland was another chance for van Veen to clinch his maiden Euro Tour title, but blew his opportunity in the semi-finals losing to eventual winner Stephen Bunting. With Luke Woodhouse waiting in the final, the young Dutchman was confident that finally, this would have been his event.

"I was really bummed about it, especially because I would have met Woodhouse," he said. "With all due respect, he's no Littler, Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, or Gerwyn Price. That would have been a great opportunity on my first Euro Tour. But the lost match against Bunting isn't my worst ever. That was against Rob Cross at the Matchplay last year, and I've played worse matches at World Championships."

If he had made it to the final in the Swiss Darts Trophy, then he would have entered the Grand Prix as a top 16 player for the first time, but it was not to be. "I was just a little too late to reach that position to qualify for the Grand Prix, but then I might have met Littler in the second round. But being there is great, and I consider it a real milestone. I've taken it step by step and didn't expect to be there already."

The event may not be for over a year, but The Giant already has his sights set on qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts in 2026, relieving him of the pressure to do it later on in the year. His chosen method will be competing in the World Youth Darts Championships, with a final appearance gaining him entry into the event. It is how he qualified for this year's competition, surviving a match dart to defeat an emotional Jurjen van der Velde in the final.

"I'm going there no matter what," he said. "On paper, it's the easiest route to next year's Grand Slam. That's why I want to participate, because I've found this year that it gives me a lot of peace of mind. I'd be foolish not to go. Honestly, I don't care what the other players think about it. It's not my problem that I can't play the rest of the year. I can play this one, so I'm there. I'm curious to see what Littler and Josh Rock will do. Littler has been saying for a while that he won't play, but I've heard other stories. We'll see."