There have been some truly standout performances at the Grand Slam of Darts this year.
Luke Littler has been back to his best, topping his group and averaging over 112 in his game against Keane Barry.
Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman has been tipped as a potential world champion after his incredible performances at the Grand Slam of Darts, despite the fact he didn’t win a single game.
Gian van Veen put the nail in Nijman’s coffin on Tuesday evening with a remarkable 5-4 win against his fellow Dutchman.
Van Veen has been brilliant during this tournament, and speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Wayne Mardle claimed that Van Veen is playing the best darts of his career right now.
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Gian van Veen playing the best darts of his career
Van Veen has been tipped for big things for a long time, and he’s finally making good on that potential.
The 22-year-old has been in remarkable form at the Grand Slam, and Mardle says that this is the best he’s ever seen The Giant play.
“It was ridiculous there was a time in darts where only one or two people can play like that. Now there’s dozens of them. Gian Van Veen is having the tournament of his life. He’s never been like this before,” Mardle said.
Can Van Veen win the Grand Slam?
Van Veen breezed through his group in Wolverhampton, but the big question is, can he go on and win the whole thing?
Well, the stats certainly suggest he’s a contender.
| Result | Gian van Veen average |
| Gian van Veen 5-2 Josh Rock | 110.39 |
| Gian van Veen 5-1 Stephen Bunting | 114.71 |
| Gian van Veen 5-4 Wessel Nijman | 103.99 |
Van Veen’s tournament average so far is good enough to win any event, but, of course, consistency is key.
Now that we’re into a knockout format, every game is so important, and the draw hasn’t been kind to Van Veen.
Ryan Joyce is a formidable opponent in the next round, and if the formbook is anything to go by, a match with Gary Anderson awaits in the quarter-finals.
Luke Humphries has recently called Anderson the best player in the world, and after hitting a 113 average against Ryan Joyce in the Group Stage, it’s fair to say the Flying Scotsman is in the groove right now.
Van Veen is certainly a contender, but there are a number of hurdles he’ll have to clear if he wants to become the Grand Slam champion.