VAN VEEN MAKES STATEMENT ON PREMIER LEAGUE DEBUT
06/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
GIAN VAN VEEN is already hoping the Premier League season can be called off after just one night.
‘The Giant’ made a dream start on debut, charging all the way to the final before going down 6–4 to Michael van Gerwen in Newcastle.
World No.3 Van Veen now sits second in the table, trailing his Dutch compatriot by one point, having secured the scalps of Luke Littler and Jonny Clayton.
Van Veen joked he’d happily skip the rest of the weekly roadshow and head straight for the play-offs at the O2 Arena.
He told ViaPlay: “It was quite positive. I wasn’t good tonight. Everyone saw that. I wasn’t what I might have expected from myself.
“Scoring-wise it didn’t quite click. But if you still make the final, well, that’s simply a decent night.
“It gives you confidence that it can happen even when you’re not at your best.
“It’s great to make my debut here. First Premier League night ever, two matches won and a final reached. I’m enjoying that immensely.
“Such a vast arena it looks almost as big as Ahoy. It was beautiful. I really enjoyed it.
“Three points in the bag. You can take that home.
“Second in the table. They can call it off now as far as I’m concerned. On to The O2.”
Van Veen admitted it hurt to come up short against a rampant MVG, with the nightly title and £10,000 top prize slipping through his fingers.
He added: “I’m really gutted about that.
“Scoring-wise I just wasn’t good against Michael. And of course you want to win a night like this. Especially against Michael. That’s also a match you want to win even more.
“It just wasn’t there today. I’m disappointed about that, but hey, that’s part of it.”
