"I didn't play at my best but I still beat Luke Littler" - Gian van Veen says he won't hesitate to "poke back" at the world No 1 as the Premier League Darts heads to Antwerp in week two.
European Champion Van Veen looks to build upon his impressive debut last Thursday and although he wasn't at his brilliant best in Newcastle, the Dutchman secured big wins over Littler and Jonny Clayton which saw him depart the North East with three points to his name.
His quarter-final success over reigning world champion .
"Almost a perfect start," said Van Veen. "Looking at the fixtures and playing Luke Littler in the first game, my goal was just to win that game and then I had a successful night.
"That happened and then I won the semi-final, but looking back at the final [against Michael van Gerwen] I just wasn't up to par. I'm looking to do better, but to make a final on my debut I won't complain.
"The most important part is to win your first game, especially playing in this for the first time. You don't want to be spending three or four weeks not winning any games - then it starts getting to you. I think that was the most important part.
"Littler is not someone you want to be losing five or six matches in a row to, because next time he'll be 2-0 up against you already!
"You need to poke back at him and that's what I did last week, so I think that's going to help my campaign for the next few weeks as well.
"I didn't play my A game, and that helps because I know that even though I didn't play at my best I can still beat him. I can still win games in the Premier League. That gave me so much confidence.
"In the best of 11 legs we all know we can beat each other. Over the longer format they [Littler and Luke Humphries] are the two best players in the world at the moment, but in the best of 11 all eight players can play six good legs, especially on a Premier League night."
Van Veen's heavy grip causes him to suffer cuts to his throwing hand. He was famously left bleeding during his 7-1 rout suffered at the hands of Littler in the final of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, but 'The Giant' also cut himself during his European Championship triumph in Dortmund.
He said: "I'm trying to [change the grip on my dart] but it's difficult, especially when you play like I have been. It's difficult to change. If I'm bleeding but still making finals and winning titles, then I'll take it."
Van Veen takes on Gerwyn Price in a fascinating quarter-final tussle in Antwerp, with the Dutch star admitting he has been left intimidated previously by 'The Iceman', against whom he has won only once in nine matches.
"I was quite intimidated by him on stage by what he was doing, but I think I've grown so much as a player and a first win over him was really needed in Prague last year," said Van Veen.
"Definitely the roaring! You notice that he is there on stage. I knew what was going to happen when he hit a good shot or a 180 and I didn't really know what to do, but it shouldn't be an issue anymore."
Littler was due to speak to the media on Wednesday afternoon but the press conference was cancelled at short notice, without reason.
The teenager from Warrington boasts an extraordinary record in Belgium, having won back-to-back European Tour titles in Wieze, while also lifting last year's Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp.
The back-to-back world champion will be aiming to continue that remarkable record against his great rival Humphries, in a repeat of their epic World Masters decider earlier this month.
"Every stage is different in my opinion," claimed Littler, who secured a record-breaking six nightly wins in the 2025 Premier League season. "I'm not under any pressure and I don't need to put pressure on myself.
"I know I lost to Gian on Night One, but last year I lost to Michael van Gerwen [on Night One] as well.
"There's still 15 weeks left, so as long as I get into the top four, that's all that matters."
Seven-time Premier League champion Van Gerwen claimed the nightly spoils in Newcastle, overcoming his compatriot Van Veen to mark the perfect start to his 2026 campaign.
Van Gerwen failed to register a nightly win throughout the entirety of last year's competition, but he's refusing to get carried away ahead of his quarter-final clash against Josh Rock, who is bidding to open his account in Belgium.
"The Premier League is always a rollercoaster, so you need to make sure you perform week after week," declared the Dutch superstar.
"I've been in a position before when I won three nights in a row and then afterwards I played poorly, so I need to keep my focus and the momentum going.
"People know what I'm capable of. I don't have to make statements. Everyone still wants to beat me, but more importantly I still want to beat them.
"There's still a lot of room for improvement, so as long as I keep that in mind, anything is possible."
Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday from February until May on Your Site. .
