Gian van Veen: Kidney Stones, Littler & Career Stats
Kidney stones derailed Gian van Veen’s 2026 Premier League campaign, but the Dutch darts player turned a health crisis into a comeback narrative. His recovery and return highlight resilience in a sport often defined by mental fortitude.
Gian van Veen at a Glance
- Born 2002 in the Netherlands (Official Site)
- PDC professional darts player
- 2025 European Champion (Wikipedia)
- 2× World Youth Champion (Wikipedia)
- Withdrew from Premier League due to kidney stones in March 2026 (Sky Sports)
- Runner-up at 2026 PDC World Championship (Wikipedia)
Snapshot Facts
- Full Name: Gian van Veen
- Born: 23 April 2002 (Official Site)
- Nationality: Dutch
- Height: Not confirmed from provided sources
- Highest Ranking: Not confirmed from provided sources
- Major Titles: 1 (2025 European Championship) (ESPN)
- World Youth Titles: 2 (2024, 2025) (Wikipedia)
Key Achievements
Health Timeline
- Dartitis documented in 2020-2021 (Wales Online)
- Kidney stone diagnosis March 2026 (PDC)
- Surgery March 2026 (ESPN)
- Returned to full health by June 2026 (Darts World)
Born 23 April 2002 | Nationality Dutch | Major Title 2025 European Championship | World Youth Champion 2 times (2024, 2025) | 2026 PDC World Championship Runner-up
“I’m doing everything I can to make it to Berlin.”
Gian van Veen, via ESPN
What does Gian van Veen suffer from?
Kidney stones diagnosis
Gian van Veen withdrew from the 2026 Premier League night in Dublin after being diagnosed with kidney stones (PDC). Symptoms reportedly began on a Sunday morning before intensifying after his return from Göttingen (GB News). He had been in hospital since Wednesday morning during the episode (Flashscore).
Van Veen had surgery to remove kidney stones in March 2026 (ESPN). The PDC confirmed he would not be available for pre-event media ahead of the Berlin Premier League night while recovering from kidney stone treatment (Sky Sports).
Impact on Premier League performance
After treatment, Van Veen said his energy levels were still lower than hoped (Sky Sports). He described recovery as requiring patience (ESPN).
Has Van Veen ever beaten Littler?
Head-to-head record overview
No confirmed head-to-head data between Van Veen and Luke Littler is available from the provided research inputs. Both players compete in PDC events, but specific match results require verification from Tier 1 or Tier 2 sources.
Notable match results
Van Veen beat Luke Humphries in the 2025 European Championship final in Dortmund (ESPN). No record of a match against Littler has been confirmed.
“Some opponents accused me of cheating while I suffered from dartitis.”
Gian van Veen, via Wales Online
How tall is Gian van Veen?
Height from official profile
Gian van Veen’s height has not been confirmed from the provided authoritative sources. The official site (gvvdarts.com) may list it, but it was not included in the top five SERP results. Common estimates from fan forums remain unverified.
Comparison to other darts players
Without confirmed data from official profiles, any comparison to other darts players would be speculative.
What is Gian van Veen’s ranking and career trajectory?
Current PDC world ranking
Van Veen’s current PDC world ranking is not confirmed from provided sources. Official PDC site data would be required for verification.
Major titles won
He won the 2025 European Championship, described by ESPN as his first major title (ESPN). He also became runner-up at the 2026 PDC World Championship (Wikipedia).
Youth championships
Van Veen is a two-time PDC World Youth Champion, winning titles in 2024 and 2025 (Wikipedia).
| Aspect | Gian van Veen | Luke Humphries |
|---|---|---|
| Major Titles | 1 (2025 European Championship) | Multiple (2024 World Champion, etc.) |
| World Championship Best | Runner-up (2026) | Winner (2024) |
| Youth Titles | 2 (World Youth Champion) | N/A |
The pattern: Van Veen’s career trajectory shows rapid rise through youth titles to major finals, placing him among top competitors but still chasing his first world title.
How old is Gian van Veen and where is he from?
Age and date of birth
Gian van Veen was born on 23 April 2002 (Official Site). He is currently 23 years old.
Nationality and early career
He is Dutch (Official Site). His early career included overcoming dartitis, a condition described as making it difficult to release a dart (ESPN).
- 23 April 2002: Born in the Netherlands.
- 2024 – 2025: Won back-to-back PDC World Youth Championships (Wikipedia).
- 2025: Won the European Championship (first major PDC title) (ESPN).
- 2026: Runner-up at the PDC World Championship (Wikipedia).
- March 2026: Withdrew from Premier League Night Seven due to kidney stones (Sky Sports).
- June 2026: Returned to full health (Darts World).
“I’m back to full health and want to use tests to find what caused the kidney stones.”
Gian van Veen, via Darts World
Related reading: **Nathan Aspinall: Darts Career, Health & Personal Life**
espn.com, thesun.co.uk, express.co.uk, list-directory.com, mirror.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gian van Veen’s nickname?
No confirmed nickname is provided in the research sources.
Did Gian van Veen win the Premier League?
No, he withdrew from the 2026 Premier League due to kidney stones and did not win the title.
At what age did Gian van Veen start playing darts?
Not confirmed from provided sources; his early career references dartitis in 2020-2021.
Is Gian van Veen the youngest world champion?
No, he has never won the PDC World Championship; he was runner-up in 2026.
What darts brand does Gian van Veen use?
Not confirmed from provided sources.
How many 180s has Gian van Veen hit in his career?
Not confirmed from provided sources.
Has Gian van Veen ever played in the World Matchplay?
Not confirmed from provided sources.
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