"Survive first round at every major this year" - Gian van Veen has clear goal for second half of the season

Gian van Veen only captured his PDC Tour Card early last year. After a particularly strong year and a half on the Pro Tour, he has already worked his way up to the top 32 in the world rankings. And this weekend marks his World Matchplay debut.

The covid period was a disaster for many people, but not for Van Veen. "I trained particularly well then and also played online tournaments. That went particularly well and because of that I was even allowed to participate in the Modus Super Series. I immediately won a playing week there on my first participation and afterwards also the final week with all the winners of the previous weeks. I was immediately launched," Van Veen told Darts Actueel.

Van Veen obtained his Tour Card in early 2023. "Because of my good results at the Modus Super Series I went to Q-School with quite a lot of confidence, but still that Tour Card came unexpectedly. Since then I have made great strides with the top 32 as the crowning achievement," he reflected happily.

Despite his successes, Van Veen has also already had to deal with a major disappointment. "At the last World Darts Championship I lost in the first round against Man Lok Leung, that hit me hard," he recalls. "I had expected a lot from that World Championship, if you get eliminated right away it hurts a lot. On the other hand, I was able to put it behind me pretty quickly afterwards, I had had a good year and that one bad result could not linger."

Van Veen had set himself some goals at the beginning of the year. "That was to qualify for every major. I'm in good shape for that at the moment," he says. "I have since adjusted it to surviving the first round at every major, which I think is a realistic goal."

'The Giant' will make his debut at the World Matchplay on Sunday. In the opening round, he will take on former winner Rob Cross.