“The hype is all around Beau, not me” – Gian van Veen happy to stay in the shadows ahead of World Youth final

Gian van Veen has made a strong start to his 2025 European Championship campaign, cruising past Australia’s Damon Heta 6–3 on Thursday night to reach the second round in Dortmund.

The 23-year-old Dutchman produced a composed display in Germany, finishing efficiently and punishing Heta’s early mistakes. With two ton-plus checkouts and an early surge to a 4–0 lead, Van Veen never looked in danger of defeat.

He admitted afterwards in his post-match press conference, that he wasn’t completely settled on stage at first, but capitalised on his opponent’s slow start. “I didn’t feel very comfortable up there early on,” he said. “But the first three or four legs, Damon really didn’t turn up, to be honest. That’s a shame because he’s a fantastic player, but I got lucky that he didn’t hit his level today. When I was 4–0 up, I thought, ‘Yeah, this is in the bag,’ and just played it out.”

Heta briefly threatened a comeback with a 127 checkout and after Van Veen missed three match darts, but the Dutchman finished the job with a steady 16-darter to seal a confident opening win.

The victory was an important one for Van Veen, who reached the semi-finals on his European Championship debut two years ago. This time, he arrived in Dortmund as a top-16 player in the world and one of the brightest young talents on the PDC circuit.

Consistency has been a hallmark of his season, and he’s not surprised to be starting another televised event strongly — though he’s careful not to get carried away. “The standard nowadays is so high,” he said. “Even before this tournament, people told me I was in the easier part of the draw, but there’s no easy draw anymore. All 32 players here are phenomenal. I’m happy to be through to round two, and hopefully on Sunday evening I’ll be there lifting the trophy.”

It’s the kind of confident yet grounded outlook that has defined Van Veen’s rise since winning his Tour Card in 2023. His steady performances have earned him not just ranking points, but genuine respect from his peers.

Van Veen’s growing success has inevitably brought more attention, not least because of his upcoming World Youth Championship final against Beau Greaves next month. But the Dutchman insists he’s perfectly happy letting the spotlight shine elsewhere.

“I think all the hype is around Beau, not me,” he said with a grin. “After that semi-final I read all the headlines saying, ‘Beau Greaves in the final,’ even though she’s playing me! But that’s fine — she’s a fantastic player. I like being in the background. My goal was to reach the final and qualify for the Grand Slam next year, and that’s done. I’m really looking forward to Minehead.”

That modesty is part of what’s made Van Veen a popular figure among fans, though his ambitions remain clear.

As one of darts’ most promising young players, Van Veen’s name has already been floated as a potential Premier League contender for 2026. He’s not ruling it out, but knows there’s still plenty of work to do.

“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it,” he admitted. “When you hear your name mentioned alongside the Premier League players, it’s always nice. But I’m still only 17th or 18th in the world, so it’s a big ask. If I play well here and in the next few tournaments, who knows? We’ll see next year.”

Thursday’s win also carried some personal significance. Van Veen lost his opening match in Dortmund last year and was determined not to repeat that.

“Last year I felt like I was out before the tournament even started,” he said. “Luckily this year I wasn’t on first, so I thought, ‘At least I’m already doing better than last year!’ But seriously, getting through that first round is a big step. The longer format from now on really suits me.”

The Dutchman continues to knock on the door of a first major stage title, and he believes it’s only a matter of time before that breakthrough comes.

“Of course I want to pick up my first stage title,” he said. “I’ve been close this year. My averages are good, my finishing’s improved, and I feel great. Hopefully it’s a good weekend, but if it doesn’t happen now, there are loads more tournaments this year and next. It’ll happen one day.”

Next up, Van Veen will face Ryan Searle in Saturday’s second round for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I’m happy to be through,” he said. “We’ll see where it goes — hopefully on Sunday evening I’ll be there lifting that trophy.”