DARTS star Gian van Veen considered quitting the sport prematurely as he felt guilty for “wasting” his parents’ money.
Van Veen, 23, is considered the second most promising young star – only behind teenage sensation Luke Littler, 18, – and has been tipped to succeed fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen.
However, the Giant’s career almost ended before it even began following a series of false starts as a youth player when he was barely visible – and that took a toll on him.
What started as pre-match nerves, ended with him being unable to throw a single dart when practicing due to an intense mental block.
That was down to him feeling like he was letting his parents’ down after all the money they invested in his passion for the sport for years, with him coming back with zero earnings.
The Dutchman’s level plunged to a 65 average and video games seemed more interesting than training.
And so after six consecutive tournaments without prize money he thought he would never climb up the ranks from amateur darts.
Van Veen told NU: “I was practicing in my bedroom and suddenly couldn’t let go of the dart.
“Meanwhile it felt like I was wasting my parents’ money, because I kept coming home with zero euros.
“I was playing for my parents, not for myself. After misses I thought: there goes their money again.
“I thought: I’ll just stay an amateur.”
However, Van Veen’s fortunes turned during the COVID-19 pandemic when he had the chance to compete from home.
All the popular thrower had to do was set up a webcam and a dart board without the added pressure of travel costs and having to win to return his parents’ financial investment.
Van Veen added: “It felt like a relief not having to think about my parents’ expenses.
“Night after night I was throwing past midnight, at the board mounted on the wall of their bedroom.
“I think I just wasn’t a great talent mentally. I needed those matches at home to realise I could do it.
“Intelligence can get in your way too. In darts it’s best not to think and just throw. A lot of other players are better at that.”
And the rest is now history with Van Veen seventh in the darts’ world rankings today.
