LEUNG HAS DONE IT! 🇭🇰 Man Lok Leung stuns the darting world with an incredible performance to beat Gian van Veen 3-2! Just look what it means to him! 📺 bit.ly/24WCLive #WCDarts | R1
"He was simply better and I wish him every success" - Mature Gian van Veen shows class after heartbreaking World Darts Championship defeat
PDCTuesday, 19 December 2023 at 10:00
For Gian van Veen, the World Darts Championship ended in a huge disappointment. The 21-year-old Dutchman went down 3-2 in the opening round against Man Lok Leung.
Van Veen, took a 2-0 lead, although he that second set was gained somewhat luckily after Leung missed numerous doubles in the deciding leg. "Yes, I took that set with luck. Then I thought: fine, one more set and you're through," Van Veen told AD.nl post-match.
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Beforehand, Van Veen, who recently reached the semifinals at the European Championships, had said that a quick elimination at the Alexandra Palace would not be a blemish on his tremendously strong debut year in the PDC. But he came back to that after his elimination. "Sure enough, sure enough. You're up 2-0, you blink three times and you lose 3-2. He kept pumping 180s and I just wasn't scoring well. I hate this."
However, the expectations in Van Veen were extremely high beforehand, as he was listed fifteenth in the betting agencies to win the World Darts Championship. But he didn't want to use that as an excuse. "No, I wasn't worried about that. I also expected myself to win this competition," he admits.
Van Veen therefore had no choice but to resign himself to this unexpected defeat. "He was simply better and I wish him every success. Quickly home and on to next year."
Leung may now take on 22nd-seeded Gabriel Clemens in the second round.
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- With the general noise / buzz coming from the crowd can a player seriously believe he can hear darts rattling in the other players hand?Mysstree23-11-2024
- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
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- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024