Life has transformed dramatically for Gian van Veen since his breakthrough at the World Championship. The 23-year-old darter, previously based in Andel, now spends more time in airports and foreign hotels than at home with his girlfriend Kyana Frauenfelder and dog Teddy. His lost World Championship final against Luke Littler marked the start of a new chapter, propelling him to become the Dutch number one and world number three.
Van Veen's elevated status has not gone unnoticed. "I get recognized more often, people approach me and want a photo. It's nice to get recognition for your good performances. And of course everyone is positive because you're doing well," he told De Telegraaf. The attention comes with success but requires adjustment, as his busy schedule and intense travel force him to be more mindful with planning. For instance, he decided to skip the Players Championships this week to be fresh for the Premier League in Belfast.
"You have to listen to your body and pick up on signals when you notice you're not really up for it. You obviously want to do well your first time in the Premier League. It's something you might not experience often again, so you want to have full focus on it," Van Veen explained. His results justify those choices: after the World Championship final, he achieved runner-up finishes at the Bahrain Darts Masters, two Premier League nights, and the first Euro Tour event of the season, plus a semi-final at the World Masters, confirming his run was no fluke.
The PDC is now prominently profiling him as one of the new faces of the sport, meaning he is rarely at home in the house he recently bought with Frauenfelder in Andel. When he is there, he makes a point of enjoying the peace and quiet. "Because I don't see much of that anymore either. That really helps me recharge," he says, referring to dog Teddy. Time with his girlfriend is also scarce, although Frauenfelder herself is making strides in the darts world.
