Gian van Veen’s recent results have fallen short of the high expectations he set earlier this season, according to former pro and darts analyst Vincent van der Voort. After a strong spell that included reaching the World Championship final, the Dutchman is still searching for his best game. Van der Voort noted that the form has not yet returned, despite a promising appearance at the World Cup of Darts alongside Michael van Gerwen.
“I had hoped he would come out of the World Cup a bit better,” said Van der Voort. “But the Players Championships weren’t great and the Euro Tour recently wasn’t either, so that’s a shame.” The analyst also observed technical changes in Van Veen’s throw, saying, “I also get the sense that he’s standing a bit more upright. That he doesn’t dare to lean or stretch forward as much. His movement isn’t what it used to be. That makes everything a bit more careful. And that doesn’t help his game.”
Van der Voort emphasized that correcting such adjustments is not easy, especially with a packed schedule. “You can say: ‘Do something different.’ But that’s not how it works. Then it becomes uncontrolled again. You have to train that in, and that takes time. And he doesn’t have that, because every week he has to be out there again.”
The analyst believes the current situation stems from uncertainty, contrasting it with Van Veen’s form around the World Championship. “When he made the World Championship final, he had the dart in his hand, threw it as hard as he could, and it just landed exactly where he wanted it. You don’t think about it then. Now he is thinking about it, and that’s not strange either. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself, of course. When you’re in form, everything clicks. Now it’s trying everything, constantly looking for where he can get the control back.”
Despite the dip, Van der Voort sees pointers for recovery, saying the solution lies in gradually rediscovering the feel that made Van Veen successful. “That you slowly start to get that feeling back.” For Van Veen, the coming period will be about regaining confidence, with many believing his qualities are still there. If he manages that, this slump could quickly become a thing of the past.