Gian van Veen achieved a significant milestone by reaching the semifinals of the Darts World Championship for the first time in his career. In a decisive quarter-final match, he defeated world number two Luke Humphries with a score of 5-1.
Upcoming Semifinals
Van Veen, now the last remaining Dutch player in the tournament, will face 55-year-old Scottish player Gary Anderson, a two-time world champion. The other semifinal will feature English players Luke Littler and Ryan Searle.
Reflections on Victory
Following his impressive win over Humphries, Van Veen expressed a mixture of disbelief and ambition regarding a potential world title. “Maybe a little. If you can set aside a player like Luke Humphries, you can certainly dream,” he remarked post-match.
Rise in Rankings
With this victory, Van Veen has ascended to the third position in the world rankings, surpassing Michael van Gerwen as the leading Dutch player. For over 13 years, van Gerwen held the title of the best Dutch dart player but was eliminated in the eighth finals of this championship. Despite this achievement, Van Veen remains humble, stating, “I think Michael will probably remain the number one Dutch player for everyone in the coming years.”
Match Highlights
The match opened with Humphries showcasing impressive play, putting Van Veen under pressure with high scores. However, Humphries struggled with finishing, which allowed Van Veen to shine. Key moments included Van Veen consistently hitting finishes of 124 and 170, demonstrating his precision under pressure.
Critical Sets
The fifth set proved crucial. Leading 3-1, Van Veen had a chance to secure an even bigger lead. Although he just missed a 170 finish, a mistake from Humphries gave Van Veen a second opportunity, which he seized decisively. “I am so happy to win 5-1 rather than having it close at 5-3 or 5-4,” he commented, highlighting the clarity of his victory.
Historic Achievement
Van Veen’s advancement to the semifinals marks him as the fourth Dutch player to reach this stage in a PDC World Championship, following legends Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen, and Jelle Klaasen. This victory adds to Van Veen’s growing reputation after winning the European Championship last year.
Littler’s Strong Performance
In another quarter-final, Luke Littler defeated Polish player Krzysztof Ratajski 5-0. Littler, the defending champion, faced some initial audience disapproval but maintained his composure and won over the crowd with outstanding finishes, notably a 170 finish that set the tone for the match.
