''I needed to win on stage again against a big player" - Win over Michael Smith very important for Gian Van Veen

Gian van Veen recorded a fine 6-3 victory over former world champion Michael Smith on Friday to join the last eight at the Dutch Darts Masters in Den Bosch.

''A really great result,'' is how Van Veen described it to Online Darts afterwards. ''I think Michael and I didn't play our game but even through that, I got the job done in the end and I'm really happy with the win."

For Van Veen it was only the second time he got to play on such a big stage in front of his fellow Dutchmen. ''Last time I played in front of the home crowd it was in Leeuwarden but it doesn't really feel like my home crowd and I lost my first game," he recalls. "Tonight though, lots of family in the crowd. Only familiar faces for me."

The win over Smith was a result Van Veen did need after some disappointing results. ''I needed to win on stage again against a big player," admits Van Veen. "I think today is a result I really needed."