Van Veen Emerges as Littler's Biggest Challenger

Following his impressive 5-1 victory over 2024 champion Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen believes he is now the most significant threat to Luke Littler's reign as world champion, having secured a spot in his maiden Alexandra Palace semi-final. Van Veen, 23, will face Gary Anderson in the semi-final, with the winner potentially facing either Littler or Ryan Searle in the final. When asked if he considered himself the closest player to Littler, Van Veen replied, "If I play like I did against Humphries, then maybe. I've beaten him a couple of times on the European Tour and gave him a good game at the World Grand Prix, but he played phenomenally. Van Veen's win over Humphries propelled him to No 3 in the world rankings, overtaking Michael van Gerwen as the top Dutch player. To achieve true elite status, Van Veen acknowledged that winning the tournament outright is necessary. "I need to be world champion or world No 1 to become elite," he stated. Van Veen averaged 105.41 and hit 11 180s in his quarter-final match, delivering a performance that showcased his potential to win the tournament. Sky Sports pundits, including John Part and Wayne Mardle, praised Van Veen's display, with Part saying, "He's going to go in and make life really difficult for Gary Anderson." Mardle added, "It really was a display fit for someone who may go on to be world champion."