Van Veen Holds Firm on Littler Criticism While Offering Olive Branch
Gian van Veen has declared he is prepared to "bury the hatchet" with rival Luke Littler following their heated exchange in Manchester, though the Dutch darts player remains steadfast in his criticism of the world champion's conduct during their recent Premier League quarter-final clash.
The Manchester Incident That Sparked Controversy
The controversy erupted a fortnight ago when the two players faced off in their Premier League quarter-final match. During the tense encounter, Littler appeared to celebrate when Van Veen missed a crucial match dart, subsequently gesturing for his opponent to return to the oche. The incident concluded with what observers described as a frosty handshake between the competitors, with the disagreement spilling over onto social media platforms in the days that followed.
While Littler has since denied intentionally celebrating Van Veen's missed dart and called for both players to move forward, Van Veen maintains his original assessment of the behaviour as "childish."
Van Veen's Unwavering Position on the Controversy
When questioned about whether the pair needed to clear the air, Van Veen offered a nuanced response that balanced his personal convictions with a willingness to move beyond the incident.
"It's a difficult one. Like for myself, not really. He said his piece the other day," Van Veen explained. "I still have the same view as I had two weeks ago when it all happened and if he wants to bury the hatchet then fine."
The 23-year-old Dutch player emphasized that he bears no ill will toward Littler personally, despite their differing perspectives on the Manchester incident.
"I don't have any hard feelings towards him and I don't know how it is the other way around but we'll see how it goes," Van Veen continued. "He's got his opinion and he's entitled to it. I still have mine, I still have the same opinion as I had two weeks ago, straight after the incident happened."
Van Veen revealed he has reviewed footage of the incident multiple times and remains convinced of his initial assessment.
"I've looked back at it, I've seen the videos and I still stand by my opinion and you know, it is what it is and we'll just have to go forward with it," he stated.
Potential Renewal of Rivalry in Rotterdam
The simmering tension between the two players could potentially reignite during Thursday's Premier League event in Rotterdam, where Van Veen would enjoy home advantage if both competitors advance to the semi-final stage.
Van Veen expressed openness to developing a friendship with Littler in the future and hopes the pair will face each other again soon on the professional circuit.
"For sure. Like I said, there's no hard feeling from my side," Van Veen responded when asked about the possibility of friendship. "It's all happening in the heat of the moment and of course, you know, he's got his opinion, I've got mine but yeah, that's how it goes."
Needle in Darts: Good for Sport When Not Personally Involved
The two-week controversy has generated significant discussion within the darts community, particularly at a time when some critics have suggested the sport's top competitors have become too friendly with one another.
Van Veen acknowledged that a degree of competitive tension can benefit the sport, though he prefers to observe such dynamics from a distance rather than being directly involved.
"I enjoy it but only if I'm not involved. I think that's the best for me," Van Veen admitted. "I think it's good for the sport to have a bit of needle here and there but you never want to be involved."
Rotterdam Quarter-Final Matchups
For a potential semi-final rematch with Littler to materialize in Rotterdam, Van Veen must first overcome Luke Humphries in his quarter-final encounter. Meanwhile, Littler opens his campaign against Gerwyn Price in what promises to be another compelling matchup.
The Rotterdam event features several other intriguing contests, including home favourite Michael van Gerwen taking on Jonny Clayton, while Josh Rock faces Stephen Bunting in another quarter-final pairing.
The darts community will be watching closely to see whether Van Veen and Littler's paths cross again in Rotterdam, potentially reigniting their recent controversy or providing an opportunity for reconciliation on the oche.
