LUKE LITTLER IS THE 2023 WINMAU WORLD YOUTH CHAMPION 🏆 What a game, what a standard, and what a performance! 16-year old Luke Littler is the @Winmau World Youth Champion, beating Gian Van Veen 6-4 👏
Gian van Veen overcame fear of failure: ''Winning a lot has boosted my self-confidence''
PDCWednesday, 29 November 2023 at 14:00
Gian van Veen missed out on claiming the title of the PDC World Youth Championship last Sunday. The 21-year-old Dutchman was defeated in the final by Luke Littler (6-4).
It was a high-class final between two top talents. Van Veen recorded an average of 97.5, compared to an average of 102.2 per turn for Littler. Both players together also recorded a combined thirteen 180 scores in ten legs.
''It was a nice level, indeed,'' Van Veen responded in conversation with De Telegraaf. ''And he could keep that up throughout the match. In a best of 11 legs, a short match, you know you have to start well right away. When I was 5-1 down I felt a certain relaxation, as if I would not win this match. Without giving up I then made a game of it, but Littler deservedly won 6-4.''
During the final it could be seen that Van Veen sometimes took his time well before throwing on an important double. 'GVV The Giant' struggled with fear of failure in the past, but he no longer suffers from that.
How he deals with this fear of failure? ''By winning a lot. That strengthened my self-confidence. At such important moments as in that final, I need that peace of mind to be one hundred percent sure in my head that it's going to work. Other darters might take less time, but I don't want to be able to blame myself afterwards for having thrown too fast.''
On Monday, Van Veen's number went into the ball pit for the World Darts Championship draw. In the draw, he was paired with Man Lok Leung of Hong Kong. If Van Veen gets through his first round, he will meet Gabriel Clemens in the second round. Van Veen is not unhappy with this draw.
''I can't complain. Especially with the experience I gained this year, the first round should be doable. Clemens made the semifinals at the World Championship last year as well as last weekend at the Players Championship Finals, but had a difficult year. I won our last meeting and I don't think he's happy with this draw either. Hopefully this year's World Championship will be just one match for him..."
For Van Veen, it will be a special moment when he gets to enter Alexandra Palace for the first time. ''This is the tournament that really is all about. The World Championship is the first tournament that I saw on TV as a little boy and that attracted the most attention. To be on the stage there, that will really be a boyhood dream come true. I've never been to Ally Pally, because I've always resolved not to go until I compete myself.''
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