JAN van Veen admits he is “squeezing around” at the prospect of facing Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final, just a few years after dartitis caused him to question his future in the sport.
The world youth champion progressed through the Classic at Alexandra Palace, defeating Gary Anderson 6-3 to book a place in the final with Littler, who will aim to become the fourth player in history to successfully defend his world title.
Van Veen’s impressive run saw him claim his first TV ranking title at October’s European Championships, and has been pushed up by compatriot Michael van Gerwen, who is now at a career-high of No. 3 in the world, and the 23-year-old is now aiming to become the third Dutchman to win the Sid Waddell Trophy.
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Van Veen defeated Anderson in an Ally Pally thriller and will face Littler in the final!
He previously suffered from dartitis, which affected the release of his darts, but Van Veen, who is also colorblind, is proud of how he overcame his past problems to reach the biggest match of his career to date.
“Three or four years ago I was at Barnsley, struggling with darts and crying at the table,” Van Veen told Sky Sports after his win over Anderson. “Now look at me 4 years later, it was all worth it!
“All the people who have worked so hard for me, including my parents when I was 12 or 13, taking me to tournaments all over the Netherlands, it’s incredible to be here.
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Anderson and Van Veen hit the big fish with a crazy set of darts on Ally Pally!
“I’ve been suffering from dental disease for years. I got it about four years ago, right before I got my tour card. Even when I wasn’t battling it, I never thought it would happen.
“I never dreamed that I would make it to the finals of the World Championships. I couldn’t have dreamed of it, but now it has come true. I’m very happy.”
Van Veen lost to Littler in the 2023 World Youth Championship finals, won each of the following two years, but defeated “The Nuke” in three of their five meetings in 2025.
“I’m still pinching myself and we’re moving further into the tournament, so I won’t stop pinching myself,” added Van Veen at the press conference. “I’ve been playing very well this tournament.
“I think my lowest average was around 97, 98. So I feel very good on that stage, especially in this kind of format. It was a very long match today, but I still averaged 103 and my checkout rate was also very good.”
“Of course, that gives me a lot of confidence. Luke Littler is waiting and everyone knows what he’s capable of. So I have to bring out my great game. Otherwise it’s going to be a very, very difficult match.”
On the expected challenge facing Littler, who joins Phil Taylor as the only players to reach the final in his first three appearances at the PDC World Championship, Van Veen added: “He’s going to put the pressure on from the first set, so it’s going to be very tough.
“So, hopefully, I’ll take advantage of the opportunity and keep up with him in terms of scoring, because he’s probably a better scorer than me. I’ll just keep up and take my chances and the chances will come.”
Why Van Veen is a “world class operator”
Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts:
“Last year, Van Veen went bingo. He and Wessel Nijmann were evenly matched, but Nijmann, who won the European Championship like him, must think that if I can do the same, I can become a strong player.”
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Wayne Mardle previews Littler and Van Veen’s World Darts Championship final
“Van Veen proved he can do it under pressure and that’s what makes him a world-class operator. He had to do it all over again (against Littler). It was mesmerizing and everything you want in a professional sport from start to finish. Some of the standards in it were just ridiculous.”
“It doesn’t matter who loses (Van Veen or Littler), it doesn’t matter if it was the best spell of my life, I just have to try and do it again.
“We said Littler and (Luke) Humphries were going to be in all these finals for years to come. We never thought that would happen. But since Van Veen won the European Championship in October, he’s become the one to challenge Luke Littler.”
“These are exciting times for darts.”
Who will win the World Darts Championship? Watch the final live on Sky Sports Darts from 7.30pm on Saturday. Stream darts and other top sports now.
