“It isn’t Premier League-worthy” – Gian van Veen suffers disappointing homecoming in Rotterdam

For Gian van Veen, his first appearance in the Premier League Darts at Rotterdam Ahoy was supposed to be the highlight of his season. Instead, disappointment prevailed. The Dutchman was no match for Luke Humphries and had to swallow a painful defeat on a night he had dreamed about for years.

Van Veen had been looking forward to his home night in Rotterdam for weeks. Ten years ago, he was still a fan in the stands when the Premier League first landed at Ahoy. Now he stood on the stage himself, as a player and part of the elite field. Yet that special setting could not soften the sporting disappointment. “It was great to experience and it’s a memory that will always stay with me,” but it wasn’t a pleasant one, he said afterwards on Viaplay.

Van Veen averaged 93, but came up short against Humphries over the course of the match. His scoring power in particular concerns him. The Dutchman admitted afterwards that his current level has been below par for some time. “This has been my level lately. Scoring-wise it’s not good enough. That frustrates me. I’m working hard, but it’s not paying off yet.”

For a player who impressed on the big stages for months, that is a harsh conclusion. Van Veen is among the biggest Dutch talents and proved with his World Championship final run that he can compete with the world’s best. That is precisely why the current dip hits hard.

The slump appears linked to the physical issues Van Veen has recently faced. A few weeks ago, he had to miss the night in Dublin due to surgery for kidney stones. Since then, things have been sluggish.

In four league nights after his return, he lost his opening match three times. He himself sees a clear connection between the procedure and his current performances. “It’s been happening for a number of weeks now; since the surgery it hasn’t improved. It’s not Premier League-worthy.”

The fact that the Dutchman judged himself so harshly in public says a lot about his drive and ambition. Van Veen doesn’t just want to take part in the Premier League, he wants to make his mark there. That is exactly why the current situation hurts so much.

“It hurts me a lot. When you get an invitation to the Premier League, you want to show everything and show your best game. The first weeks went well, the weeks after much less. But that’s part of it and I’ll keep fighting. I’ll keep doing my best and it will be fine.”

Although Van Veen realizes that recovery takes time, he also feels the urgency growing. The competition is approaching its decisive phase and points are becoming more important. That makes waiting for improvement more difficult. “I’m giving myself time, but it really is time for things to get better.”