"It’s been happening for a number of weeks now": Gian van Veen left frustrated at lingering effects of kidney stones after painful Rotterdam homecoming
PDC
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.
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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.
Problems after surgery
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.”
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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.”
HUMPHRIES DOWNS VAN VEEN!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 16, 2026
Not to be for Gian van Veen on his Rotterdam debut 😢
Luke Humphries claims a 6-2 win over the Dutch number one to reach the semi-finals!
📲 https://t.co/gFQK4rQ2wU#PLDarts pic.twitter.com/ekd4nglU5L
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Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
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