VAN VEEN TO COMPETE FOR WORLD YOUTH GLORY
Dutch duo Gian van Veen and Jurjen van der Velde will go head-to-head in the 2024 PDC Winmau World Youth Championship final next month, after winning through a bumper 128-player field in Wigan on Monday.
Van Veen – a runner-up to Luke Littler in last year’s event – will have another opportunity to lift the coveted title when he takes on his younger compatriot at Butlin’s Minehead Resort on November 24.
The £100,000 event began with a round-robin format on Monday, as 128 of the world's top youth talents were split into 32 groups of four, with the winners advancing to the knockout phase.
Owen Bates, Owen Roelofs and Paul Krohne were among the Tour Card Holders to exit in the group stage, as Danny Jansen, Cam Crabtree and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez also suffered early exits.
However, Van Veen underlined his status as top seed with a series of terrific performances at the Robin Park Leisure Centre.
The Dutchman eased through his group with victories over his compatriot Keanu van Velzen, Germany’s Tim Scholz and Belgian prospect Lennert Faes, conceding just seven legs in the process.
Van Veen continued his charge with emphatic wins over Laszlo Ancsin and Marvin van Velzen, before converting a clinical 117 finish to wrap up a 6-4 success against Nathan Rafferty in the quarter-finals.
The 22-year-old then confirmed his place at Minehead with a 6-2 demolition of Dylan Slevin in the last four, averaging 103.85 and sealing the deal with back-to-back 12-darters.
Van der Velde – a JDC World Champion in 2018 – came through an all-Dutch group to kick off his challenge, dispatching Mark Tabak, Maarten Jacobus Post and Colinn Haverkate in routine fashion.
The 21-year-old accounted for two further compatriots to seal his spot in the last eight, defeating Jarno Bottenberg and Roy Rietbergen by the same 6-4 scoreline to move through to a clash against Adam Gawlas.
Van der Velde edged a gruelling last-leg decider against the Czech to preserve his hopes, before fending off a late fightback from second seed Keane Barry to set up a shoot-out with Van Veen.
Barry defeated Germany’s Niko Springer and talented duo Thomas Banks and Jenson Walker in reaching the last four, where he was joined by his fellow Irishman Slevin.
The left-hander swept aside Germany’s Dominik Gruellich in the last 16, which he backed up with a dramatic victory over Development Tour Order of Merit winner Wessel Nijman.
Dutch star Nijman was imperious in the early stages of the event, averaging 100, 108 and 107 in storming through the group phase.
Nijman – a winner of seven Development Tour titles in 2024 – also overcame Daniel Outwin and Sebastian Bialecki to reach the quarter-finals, only to squander two match darts against Slevin.
Reigning Winmau World Youth Champion Littler and 2022 champion Josh Rock did not compete in Wigan, while Beau Greaves, Pascal Rupprecht and Leighton Bennett were also absent.
The Winmau World Youth Championship final will be held at Butlin's Minehead Resort on Sunday November 24, between the semi-finals and final of the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals.
2024 PDC Winmau World Youth Championship
Monday October 14, Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan
Last 16
Gian van Veen 6-2 Marvin van Velzen
Nathan Rafferty 6-2 Bradley Brooks
Wessel Nijman 6-3 Sebastian Bialecki
Dylan Slevin 6-1 Dominik Gruellich
Keane Barry 6-4 Niko Springer
Jenson Walker 6-5 Kayden Milne
Adam Gawlas 6-1 Xanti Van den Bergh
Jurjen van der Velde 6-4 Roy Rietbergen
Quarter-Finals
Gian van Veen 6-4 Nathan Rafferty
Dylan Slevin 6-5 Wessel Nijman
Keane Barry 6-1 Jenson Walker
Jurjen van der Velde 6-5 Adam Gawlas
Semi-Finals
Gian van Veen 6-2 Dylan Slevin
Jurjen van der Velde 6-4 Keane Barry
Final
Gian van Veen v Jurjen van der Velde
Best of 11 legs
To be played on Sunday November 24 at Butlin's Minehead Resort
