“I feel it’s coming” - Key change reinvigorates Gian van Veen as world number three fires 101 average in Antwerp

Gian van Veen believes an adjustment to his setup at the oche can help bring his best darts back after firing a 101.54 average in a 6-3 victory over Gabriel Clemens at the 2026 Flanders Darts Trophy.

The world number three hit five 180s and converted six of his ten darts at double in Antwerp, eventually winning the final three legs after Clemens had pushed him hard with a 98.81 average of his own.

There was quality from both men. Van Veen took out 143 to lead for the first time at 3-2, only for Clemens to respond immediately with a 146 checkout. Van Veen then broke again with 82, followed it with 84 and completed the win with a 64 finish. “It was a close game, but this one gives me so much confidence,” Van Veen said afterwards.

That confidence followed a week spent working on a specific adjustment away from competition. “This week I practised at home a lot and I’m trying to change a couple of things,” he explained. “Not in my throw, but just in my stance at the oche, and it worked tonight. It’s all in my head. I know that I can produce the same numbers as I have over the last year. I hope to do that again this year and I feel it’s coming.”

Asked exactly what he had changed, Van Veen initially joked that he was not going to give anything away before explaining the problem. “Last year, every time, I felt like I was putting my whole body into it,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep my body relaxed, put my left foot, especially my left foot, straight on the floor, not throw my shoulder into it.”

The adjustment came after his manager spotted the issue, giving Van Veen something specific to focus on during his practice sessions. “I’ve been practising that this week because of my manager. He told me that. He noticed it, and I hope he’s okay with me telling this. If not, I don’t care!”

Van Veen felt the biggest difference when throwing at the higher doubles, where he had previously found himself snatching darts underneath the target. “I tried it today on stage and I felt so much more comfortable,” he said. “Normally, when I throw a dart, especially at one of the higher doubles, I feel like I can snatch it below. Today I didn’t, and it gives me so much more confidence. I hope I can remember it during every game from now on.”

His 60 per cent checkout rate against Clemens offered an immediate return from the work, while five maximums helped Van Veen maintain the scoring pressure throughout a match in which both players averaged close to or above 100.

Van Veen now faces Kevin Doets in the last 16, renewing a rivalry that stretches back long before either player established himself on the PDC circuit. “I’ve known Kevin since I was probably about 10 or 11 years old,” Van Veen said. “We played local competitions against each other.”

Their most recent meeting came at the International Darts Open in May, where Van Veen beat Doets 6-2 in the last 16. “I remember the last time I played him, I beat him on the European Tour, so hopefully that happens again tomorrow,” he added. “But we’ll see. It’s going to be a great game. Kevin is playing in very good form this year, so I’m looking forward to that tomorrow.”

Their latest meeting will decide a place in the Flanders Darts Trophy quarter-finals, with Van Veen carrying a 101 average and his newly adjusted setup into Sunday’s showdown.