GIAN VAN VEEN LEADS NEW GENERATJON OF DUTCH TALENT ONTO THE WORLD STAGE
PDC Development Tour Number 1 Gian van Veen will make his Alexandra Palace debut on Day 4, facing Man Lok Leung of Hong Kong in the 1st Round of the 2024 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
GVV earned his Tour Card at European Qualifying School at the start of the year, and since has gone from strength to strength, including 2 107+ averages against Damon Heta in the European Championship and the European Darts Matchplay.
The young emerging talent went on to reach the Semi Finals of the 2023 European Championship Finals at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund. Gian defeated compatriot Michael van Gerwen 10-6 in the Quarter Finals before losing to James Wade in the Final 4.
The 21-year-old topped the 2023 PDC Development Tour ahead of Luke Littler having won 6 competitions this year. Van Veen earned £775 more than the 2 Time MODUS Super Series Champions Week winner, with both players claiming a tournament a piece in the final weekend of action in Milton Keynes.
Gian takes on Man Lok Leung in a battle of debutants on the world stage, with Hugo finishing 5th for money earnt in the 2023 PDC Asian Tour Order of Merit. The prize for the winner is a matchup with Gabriel Clemens, with the German Giant becoming the first German international to reach a Semi Final at Alexandra Palace in the 2023 World Darts Championship.
Elsewhere 2021 Champion Gerwyn Price will start his quest for a Second World Title, facing Connor Scutt in the final match of the night on Day 4. The Iceman has claimed 4 Pro Tour titles and 2 Euro Tour successes in 2023, whilst also reaching a Premier League Finals Night for the first time in his career after topping the table ahead of World Champion Michael Smith in 2nd.
Thibault Tricole makes history for France in the opening match of the night, as he becomes the first French international to play at a PDC World Championship when he faces Mario Vandenbogaerde.
The French Touch earned his place at the Alexandra Palace after beating Wesley Plasier, coming through a 97-player field at the PDC West Europe Qualifier in Kalkar.
2024 Paddy Power World Darts Championship:
Day 4 Order of Play
Round 1:
Mario Vandenbogaerde v Thibault Tricole
Gian van Veen v Man Lok Leung
Martin Lukeman v Haupai Puha
Round 2:
Gerwyn Price (5) v Connor Scutt
—–Ends—–
Image: PDC
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