Gian van Veen receives help from former Netherlands international footballer ahead of World Championship final: “It’s just nice to get things off my chest”

Gian van Veen is delivering at this 2026 PDC World Darts Championship not only on the stage, he has also deliberately taken steps off the oche to handle the increased pressure. In the build-up to the tournament at Alexandra Palace, the 23-year-old Dutchman enlisted the help of former international Dirk Marcellis, with whom he held several talks about mental resilience. That collaboration is clearly paying off: Van Veen is now in the World Championship final.

Van Veen’s breakthrough accelerated at the end of last year. By winning the European Championship, he claimed his first major, a result that instantly changed his status within the darts world. With that, attention grew, as did expectations heading into the Worlds. Precisely in that phase, Van Veen decided to seek external input on the mental side of elite sport.

That role was filled by Dirk Marcellis, a former professional footballer with spells at PSV, AZ, and PEC Zwolle and a three-time Dutch international. After his playing career, Marcellis focused on mental coaching and now guides athletes across different sports. Van Veen is part of that group, although he emphasizes it is not an intensive program.

After his win over Madars Razma, Van Veen explained at the press conference how the partnership came about. He noted that he does not see Marcellis weekly, but that he deliberately sought him out before the Worlds. The conversations focused mainly on dealing with pressure and expectations during a major tournament like the World Darts Championship. Van Veen was clear about that support: he is “very satisfied.”

According to Van Veen, that mental anchor also helped in the semi-final against Gary Anderson, a match that demanded a lot physically and emotionally. In such a duel, against a multiple world champion with vast experience, insiders often say the mental balance is what decides it. Van Veen stayed composed at the key moments and managed to turn the match his way.

The Dutchman indicated that his talks with Marcellis help him filter out outside noise. With his strong performances, Van Veen has also become the subject of speculation about a possible Premier League Darts call-up. Those peripheral matters are exactly what he wants to park as much as possible. “I mainly like that I can get things off my chest with him. That I can say what’s on my mind and what people are telling me. It’s just good to talk things out. Then I can focus on my own stuff. Unconsciously you’re thinking about the Premier League, for example, so you want to talk that out of your system.”

Van Veen made it clear that he currently sees no reason to step away from that guidance. On the contrary, the calm he experiences helps him keep his focus on his performances on stage. He also seems increasingly able to detach expectations from his game, something that is essential at the highest level.