"It’s my first time playing in this one, so to be number three seed is a bit strange": New position takes a lot of getting used to for Van Veen as World Masters awaits

During media day at the prestigious Winmau World Masters, Gian van Veen exudes calm, confidence, and above all enjoyment. The Dutchman, now firmly established among the world’s elite, still seems amazed at how quickly his career has taken off. Yet there is nothing casual about his approach: Van Veen is enjoying himself, but he knows better than anyone how thin the line is between success and decline in modern elite darts.

“It’s a dream coming true,” Van Veen says. “As a kid, when I started playing darts, I was always dreaming of doing what I’m doing at the moment. And I’m enjoying it very much.”

The past weeks have been packed with highlights. The World Championship final is still fresh in the memory, and with World Series events in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Van Veen barely had time to reflect on what he has achieved. He doesn’t seem to mind. On the contrary: the new season is already upon us with the Winmau World Masters, and that clearly excites him.

“Of course the World Championship was amazing,” he says. “But this new season already starts this weekend, so I’m really looking forward to getting started again.”

In darts, people often talk about ‘living the dream’, but Van Veen stresses that enjoying it isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. The competition at the top is fierce, and standing still means falling behind.

“Especially with the level now, there are so many good players,” he explains. “If you’re not playing well, someone else is, and they’re going to take your spot. So as long as I’m in top form and playing in these kinds of events — Premier League, World Series — I’m enjoying it, because it can be over in any second.”

That sense of reality defines Van Veen. Despite his status as a seeded player and a top-four name in the world rankings, his new position still feels surreal at times. Especially at the World Masters, a tournament he is playing for the first time.

“It’s my first time playing in this one, so to be number three seed is a bit strange,” he admits. “It’s going to happen in many more tournaments and hopefully I’ll get used to it, but it still feels a bit strange.”

The Winmau World Masters is played in a set format with short sets, something that appeals to Van Veen. It’s a system that leaves little room for recovery and keeps players under constant pressure.

“I really like it,” he says. “It’s fast-paced and you’re under pressure every moment of the match, especially in the set format with such short sets. It can go the other way very, very quickly.”

Van Veen has only played this format once before, during last year’s qualifiers. He went out early then, but took positives from it.

“I only played it once last year in the qualifiers,” he says. “I didn’t make it through, but I still played well. It causes a little bit of pressure in practice because it’s not a format you’re really used to, but I’m really liking it.”

In the first round, Van Veen faces Ryan Joyce. Not an easy opponent, but someone who hasn’t played on a big stage for some time.

“I’m happy that I know who I’m playing in the first game,” says Van Veen. “Ryan lost at the World Championship, so it’s been nearly a month for him since he was last on that stage. We had Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to get some more match practice, so maybe that gives me a slight edge. But we all know what Ryan Joyce is capable of, so I’m going to be wary of that.”

With Premier League Darts, European Tours, Players Championships, and majors, the schedule is busier than ever. Van Veen stresses that he won’t play everything.

“I’m not going to play all 34 ProTour events, I know that for sure,” he says. “I’ll take it month by month to see how I feel, how I am in the rankings, and what I need for qualifying. If I can secure that early, it makes the rest of the year a lot easier.”

That mature approach suits a player who knows his career is a marathon, not a sprint.

For the first time, Van Veen was part of the select PDC eight during the World Series in the Middle East. That brought a different kind of pressure.

“You’re part of the elite then,” he explains. “Especially in the third round, you’re expected to win. That’s always different pressure, but I think I played well and coped with it well. I really enjoyed my experience there.”

Van Veen is realistic about the future of darts in countries like Saudi Arabia.

“The sport needs to live a bit more there among the people,” he says. “It’s the first time, so you need to start somewhere. Hopefully the sport grows there, and then who knows — maybe we’ll have a major there in the future. But I don’t see that happening in the next three to five years.”

A much-discussed topic is the potential partnership with Michael van Gerwen at the World Cup of Darts. Van Veen confirms there has been contact.

“He said maybe in the future, if he played with me, he might give it a go,” Van Veen reveals. “From now, it’s on his schedule. With everything he’s been through, you never know, but for now it’s looking likely that we’ll play together.”

He has also spoken openly with Danny Noppert, with whom he played last year.

“Danny and I are really good friends,” he says. “If Michael pulls out, I’d love to play with Danny again because I really enjoyed it last year. But as a Dutchman, it’s always an honour to play with Michael.”

Although Van Veen now sits above Van Gerwen in the rankings, he refuses to see himself as the ‘captain’.

“For me, Michael will always be the Dutchman number one,” he says.

After a year in which he admits he overachieved, Van Veen is careful not to get carried away.

“I’m not going to stand here and say I’m going to win this or that,” he says. “I just want to do well in the majors — quarter-finals and semi-finals on a regular basis. And if it happens that I lift a title, that will be the dream.”

One goal does stand out.

“I want to win my first European Tour title,” Van Veen adds. “If that happens, I think that would be a successful year.”