Van Veen eyes career-high world No.2 ranking

GIAN VAN VEEN is on the brink of a career breakthrough as he closes in on world No.2 for the first time.

The Dutch ace is just £9,500 behind Luke Humphries on the PDC Order of Merit, and victory over Gerwyn Price in the World Matchplay semi-final would see him leapfrog his rival into second spot.

Van Veen, 24, booked his place in the last four with a gritty 16-13 win over James Wade in a scrappy clash at the Winter Gardens.

The Giant admitted he has been nowhere near his prolific best this season but believes it's a good sign that he is still producing deep runs in the biggest televised events.

He said: "It would be nice, but I've said in previous interviews that I don't feel like I'm playing like the world number three or two at the moment.

“If I keep winning my games, I don't care about the averages. I just want to win.

"If I win the next game, I think I'll move up to world number two. But it's going to be difficult against Gezzy.

“I know that if I play well, I've got a good chance. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'm very happy being world number three."

Van Veen had to dig deep against Wade while contending with whistles from a partisan Blackpool crowd.

The reigning European champion even turned and pointed at a fan after landing a huge checkout as the tension threatened to boil over.

He added: "I heard a few whistles when I was on 64 and then again on the 118 finish.

“Normally I don't get involved in all that, but today, because I probably didn't feel as comfortable as I hoped, I got a little bit involved. I know I shouldn't do that, but today it felt right.

"As soon as I hit the 118 on double 19, I was like, ‘OK, this one's for you.’ Even though he probably doesn't even know me and I don't know him. I'm just glad I hit that finish.

"It can be tricky if you get really involved. I know from experience not to get too involved.

"Yes, I reacted on two finishes, but that's about it. Not during the legs and not to everything they were doing. They were chanting ‘England’ for the last ten legs, but I didn't pay any attention.

“I just wanted to focus on my own game. I hit a couple of good finishes and my scoring got better towards the end.

“I know that if you get involved every three darts, then it's going to be trouble. Luckily I didn't today."

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning