Dutch darts sensation Gian van Veen has revealed the heartbreaking moment he was accused of cheating on the oche, an allegation born from a debilitating condition that left him in tears.
The Barnsley Metrodome Incident
The 23-year-old, who is colour blind and has battled the psychological block known as dartitis, recounted a distressing episode from his early days on the Challenge Tour. Van Veen explained that an opponent became furious, believing his painfully slow dart release was a deliberate tactic. "I was in tears, crying my eyes out in the middle of Barnsley Metrodome because I was struggling so badly," Van Veen shared on Huw Ware's Tops and Tales podcast earlier this year.
He described the accusation as "heartbreaking," stating, "for my opponent to tell me I was cheating or something - it was heartbreaking." Dartitis, which has affected legends like five-time world champion Eric Bristow and current star Nathan Aspinall, involves a mental block that physically prevents a player from releasing their dart smoothly.
Turning Adversity into Strength
Remarkably, Van Veen believes confronting dartitis ultimately fortified his game and confidence. He found that the condition forced a new level of focus, leading to improved averages once he overcame it. "The weird thing is, I played better through it. I started averaging like 85 with dartitis," he said. "But when I got rid of it, I averaged 92, 93, because in my head, I was like, 'You're not going to release the dart until you're 100 per cent sure you're going to hit the target.'"
This period of struggle, he claims, was instrumental in his development. "So it took a while, but I started playing better, winning more games, and that massively grew my confidence. And that's how I eventually got rid of it." His resilience has propelled him to world number five and the current European champion title.
World Title Ambition and Humphries Showdown
As he prepares for his World Darts Championship quarter-final clash against Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace tonight, Van Veen's ambitions are clear yet measured. Reflecting on his career goals, the Dutchman confessed that securing the Sid Waddell trophy just once would bring him ultimate satisfaction.
"I'm not going to sit here and say, 'I'm going to win five world titles.' I'll be very happy with my career if I win one," Van Veen stated. He added, "I think so far, my career's already been very successful. But yeah, I'd love to top it off - whether it's in 20, 25, 30 years - with a world title."
He will approach the high-stakes match with proven confidence against the Premier League champion, having defeated Humphries four times in the previous year. Two of those victories came in the finals of the Players Championship 6 and the European Championship, proving he can triumph on the biggest stages.
