Gian Van Veen Reaches Winmau World Youth Final
The top two on the Development Tour Order of Merit will contest the PDC Winmau World Youth Championship Final, with up-and-coming stars Gian van Veen and Luke Littler set to compete in their maiden Finale’s in November.
Defending champion Josh Rock was beaten in the Quarter Finals, with the young Dutchman prevailing a 6-5 winner to defeat the Number 1 seed in the tournament.
Van Veen opened his campaign in Milton Keynes with a 6-3 victory over 25th Seed Dominick Gruellich, despite the German international recording an average 4 points higher than the Number 8 Seed at the Marshall Arena.
Gian upped his game in the Last 16 after producing a solid 95.78 average to defeat Irish PDC Tour Card holder Dylan Slevin 6-3, to set up a Quarter Final with the defending champion Josh Rock who defeated Jarno Bottenberg 6-4 in his 2nd Round clash.
The two will meet again soon in the future as 2 of the sport’s rapid risers, but it was GVV who prevailed in a last leg decider to move himself one game away from a trip to Minehead in November.
Van Veen would go onto to produce his highest average of the day and his first ton plus in the Semi Finals, where he defeated compatriot Wessel Nijman 6-5. Wessel produced averages of 106.09 and 102.95 to defeat Nathan Rafferty and Owen Bates and reach the Last 4, before hitting a score of 102.08 against the Red Dragon player.
However, Gian found his best performance when it really mattered hitting a score of 103.20 to book his place in the PDC Winmau World Youth Final where he will face 2-time MODUS Super Series Champions Week winner Luke Littler.
The Nuke like Van Veen waited until the Semi Finals to produce his first 100+ average of the day, as he defeated Polish international Sebastian Bialecki 6-3 with a score of 101.36.
The 16-year-old sensation ended the hopes of Owen Maiden, Keane Barry, and Jacob Gwynne earlier in the day, and will also appear in his first World Youth Final having confirmed his maiden visit to the Alexandra Palace after finishing 2nd on the Order of Merit on the Development Tour.
Littler also earnt his Tour Card for the next 2 years having only finished behind Gian van Veen with £20,175 picked up in prize money.
The PDC Winmau World Youth Championship Final will take place at the Players Championship Finals in November, as we look ahead to two youngsters making their maiden Final appearances as Number 8 Seed Gian van Veen takes on Number 15 Seed Luke Littler.
By Harry Masterson
PDC Winmau World Youth Championship Results
Last 16:
Josh Rock (1) 6-4 Jarno Bottenberg
Gian van Veen (8) 6-3 Dylan Slevin (9)
Owen Bates (13) 6-4 Moreno Blom
Wessel Nijmen (21) 6-0 Nathan Rafferty (5)
Luke Littler (15) 6-3 Keane Barry (2)
Jacon Gwynne 6-3 Jurjen van der Velde (10)
Jitze van der Wal (19) 6-3 Viktor Tingstrom
Sebastian Bialecki (22) 6-1 Bradley Brooks (6)
Quarter Finals:
Gian van Veen (8) 6-5 Josh Rock (1)
Wessel Nijman (21) 6-2 Owen Bates (13)
Luke Littler (15) 6-3 Jacob Gwynne
Sebastian Bialecki (22) 6-5 Jitze van der Wal (19)
Semi Finals:
Gian van Veen (8) 6-5 Wessel Nijman (21)
Luke Littler (15) 6-3 Sebastian Bialecki (22)
Final:
Gian van Veen (8) v Luke Littler (15)