Gian van Veen sees possible 'banana skin' in first round at PDC World Darts Championship: "He has already played and won good matches on this stage"

Gian van Veen knows where he stands at the World Darts Championship: in his first round the Dutchman will meet the experienced Spaniard Cristo Reyes. Directly after the announcement of the draw, Van Veen spoke with Viaplay, and the junior world champion looked ahead to the duel with 'The Spartan'.

"Yes, that could have been easier," he said plainly. "In recent years you haven't heard much from Reyes, but at the Spanish qualifier he suddenly showed great averages. Then you think: he never really went away."

Reyes was immediately mentioned as a potential "banana peel" in Van Veen's scheme. 'The Giant' butted heads with that. "Reyes is someone with experience. When you see what qualifiers can compete ... it could also have been a totally inexperienced player, someone who is on that stage for the first time and gets impressed. Reyes doesn't have any of that. He has already played and won good matches on this stage."

Van Veen was then asked if he himself feels he is now among the top. With his first major title and another win at the junior World Championship, that answer is obvious. Still, he remained modest. "I do notice that I have made great strides in the last 12 months. I really feel at home now at the level where I play. Because of that, hopefully this will be a completely different World Championship for me. I'm going there with a lot more self-confidence than in recent years."

In the studio, his development was also praised. "Every time I think: it can't get any better. And then the next year he is still better. This year he takes the European title ... yes, then he just has to get into that World Championship. He has to win one round. Don't look any further. That first round is a threshold for everyone: ask Van Gerwen, Van Barneveld, Humphries. But win it, and then the rest will come naturally."

Van Veen then responded to that last comment with a wink. "I have no idea what that's like, winning there," he joked. "It seems like fun, but I don't dare say."

When asked if he would rather appear early or late in the tournament schedule, he remained level-headed: "Doesn't matter to me very much. As long as there are not too many days between the games before Christmas."

Finally, Van Veen was asked the question of conscience whether, still technically entitled, he would like to participate in the Youth World Championship again next year. His answer was convincing: "Why not? I won the last two years, so three in a row would be wonderful. Normally the calendar allows it, so I think I'll just participate again," the Dutchman concluded.