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'I don’t care what he thinks of me' - Gian van Veen shrugs off 'condescending' comment from James Wade

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Jul 31, 2025 4:10 PM ET

Gian van Veen reached his first televised quarter-final at the World Matchplay last week, pushing James Wade all the way in a spirited performance before bowing out 16–13 to the two-time finalist.

Van Veen, nicknamed ‘GVV The Giant’, gave a strong account of himself against the seasoned Englishman, despite ultimately falling short. Speaking to Sports News, the 22-year-old Dutchman reflected with pride on a memorable debut campaign in Blackpool. "Yes, yes, I’ve recovered from the hangover," Van Veen joked. "It was a bit of a crazy match. I got ahead early, but Wade missed a lot of chances in the beginning. Then he started taking them and ran away with it. Honestly, it could have been a much bigger defeat, so I’m happy I was able to turn it into a good match and fight my way back into it. I can definitely look back on that positively."

The contest was full of momentum swings. Van Veen raced into a 4–1 lead, only to see Wade reel off eight consecutive legs to seize control. "You feel it in a moment like that," Van Veen admitted. "He was scoring better, and in the second or third session, he just took every opportunity. It gets very lonely on that stage—even though it’s a beautiful place to be—when you lose eight legs on the spin. That’s not a great feeling."

But the Dutchman refused to roll over. "Especially in the last 10 to 15 legs, I felt I was getting better and better. My first dart was finding its target more often, and switching to treble 19 started working for me. I was holding my own throw comfortably, which gave me confidence to start challenging in his legs as well."

Turning Point: A Missed 86

The pivotal moment, Van Veen believes, may have come when he missed a chance to take out 86.

"That one really shook me," he admitted. "I thought to myself: ‘Do you want to win this match or not?’ That one had to go. I felt good—especially after hitting the treble 18. Two darts at double 16… and then you miss. I knew right then that it could’ve been the turning point. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be."

Even in the final leg, Van Veen clung to hope after Wade missed a match dart.

"You think: maybe, just maybe. But then that double 10 goes in. I’d rather he finished it with his first dart. Now you get a flicker of hope, and it’s gone instantly. That’s typical James Wade."

Responding to Wade’s Post-Match Comments

After the match, Wade was dismissive in his comments, referring to Van Veen simply as “the guy” and suggesting the Dutchman isn’t among the sport’s brightest young talents. Van Veen, however, refused to bite.

"I think James is a fine guy, but he’s not my best friend," he said. "I don’t care what he thinks of me. Calling me ‘that guy’ felt a bit condescending, but if that’s how he wants to see it, fine. I’ve always said I’m not the biggest talent in the Netherlands, or the PDC. I got here through hard work and willpower. And now I’m in the top 20 in the world—that means something to me."

A Campaign to Be Proud Of

Despite the quarter-final exit, Van Veen leaves Blackpool with his head held high.

"Very positive," he said of the experience. "Of course, it still stings, so soon after the match. But if you’d offered me a quarter-final beforehand, I would’ve taken it with both hands—especially with a first-round draw against Humphries. For me, the tournament was already a success after beating him. And to knock out the world number one and defending champion? That’s one of my biggest wins."