Dutch darts professional Gian van Veen has expressed his eagerness to return to competitive action as the Premier League Darts tour arrives in Berlin on Thursday evening. The athlete underwent surgery to remove kidney stones, forcing him to miss last week's event in Dublin and the subsequent European Tour tournament in Belgium.
Recovery and Return to the Oche
Van Veen has been focused on his recuperation, acknowledging that his energy levels remain "still lower than I hoped." However, on Wednesday afternoon, he confirmed via Instagram that he had travelled to Germany and intends to compete. "It feels good to say that I am in Berlin and I am planning to play tomorrow night," stated the World Championship runner-up.
He added, "Missing last week has left its mark on the standings. Currently sitting in 6th place. The road back is ongoing and I'm excited to be here again. Time to get back to work."
Quarter-Final Showdown with Gerwyn Price
Van Veen is scheduled to face Welshman Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals. Price nearly secured victory in Dublin last week, leading Luke Littler 5-0 in the final before the world champion staged a remarkable comeback to win in a deciding leg.
Luke Littler's Position and German Crowd Reception
Luke Littler, who has faced booing from German crowds at several tournaments, had previously hinted he might avoid events in the country due to the hostile atmosphere. The 19-year-old currently holds second place in the Premier League table, trailing leader Jonny Clayton by three points. He will open his Berlin campaign against Stephen Bunting at the Uber Arena.
"With the start Jonny had and the start I have had, obviously it is good to see I have closed the gap to Jonny in second spot," Littler commented. "I am right behind him now, so we will go and chase him."
Other Key Matches in Berlin
Defending Premier League champion Luke Humphries aims to build on his recent win in Belgium as he takes on Dutch legend Michael van Gerwen. Humphries, ranked world number two and fourth in the Premier League standings, noted, "When you are not winning as much, it becomes harder and you feel the nerves, but hopefully I am going to keep pushing now."
The remaining quarter-final pits table-topper Jonny Clayton against Josh Rock, who has yet to secure a victory in his debut Premier League tournament.
