“I had hoped he would come out of the World Cup of Darts a bit better” - Vincent van der Voort sees Gian van Veen struggling with himself

Gian van Veen’s results in recent weeks have fallen short of the high expectations he set earlier this season. After a strong spell, in which he even reached the World Championship final, the Dutchman still seems to be searching for his best game. Former pro and darts analyst Vincent van der Voort also notes that the form has not yet returned.

Participation in the World Cup of Darts alongside Michael van Gerwen appeared to be a welcome break from the constant pressure of the PDC Tour for Van Veen. During that tournament, the Dutchman looked refreshed, sparking hope that he had found the way back up. According to Van der Voort, however, that uptick has not yet continued. “I had hoped he would come out of the World Cup a bit better,” said Van der Voort. “But the Players Championships weren’t great and the Euro Tour recently wasn’t either, so that’s a shame.”

According to the former top darter, the issue is not only the results, but there are also clear changes in Van Veen’s throw. Where he played with conviction and freedom at his peak, his game now looks more cautious. “I also get the sense that he’s standing a bit more upright. That he doesn’t dare to lean or stretch forward as much. His movement isn’t what it used to be. That makes everything a bit more careful. And that doesn’t help his game.”

Van der Voort emphasizes that it isn’t easy to correct such technical adjustments straight away. Especially not in a period when players have to appear at the oche almost weekly. “You can say: ‘Do something different.’ But that’s not how it works. Then it becomes uncontrolled again. You have to train that in, and that takes time. And he doesn’t have that, because every week he has to be out there again.”

The analyst believes the current situation mainly stems from uncertainty. In his view, the contrast with the period around the Worlds is clear. “When he made the World Championship final, he had the dart in his hand, threw it as hard as he could, and it just landed exactly where he wanted it. You don’t think about it then.”

That confidence seems to be missing at the moment, which, according to Van der Voort, leaves Van Veen constantly searching for control. “Now he is thinking about it, and that’s not strange either. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself, of course. When you’re in form, everything clicks. Now it’s trying everything, constantly looking for where he can get the control back.”

Despite the dip in results, Van der Voort sees enough pointers for a recovery. The solution, he says, does not lie in big changes, but in gradually rediscovering the feel that once made Van Veen so successful. “That you slowly start to get that feeling back.”

For Van Veen, the coming period will therefore be all about regaining confidence. The qualities that took him to the very top of the sport are, many believe, still there, but the challenge now is to find that sense of inevitability on stage again. If he manages that, this current slump could quickly become a thing of the past.