In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where every point can define a season and rivalries burn hotter than the arena lights, Gerwyn Price is gearing up for a quarter-final showdown that promises fireworks—and a healthy dose of no-holds-barred honesty. The Welshman, known for his fiery competitiveness and unflinching candour, has made it crystal clear: when he steps onto the oche in Berlin for the latest leg of the Premier League Darts, sympathy for his opponent’s recent health battle will take a back seat to his relentless drive for victory.
Gian van Veen, the 23-year-old Dutch sensation and current world number three, is making a highly anticipated comeback after being sidelined by a painful ordeal. Just days ago, the rising star underwent surgery to remove kidney stones that had hospitalised him and forced him to withdraw from last week’s action in Dublin, as well as a European Tour event in Belgium. The procedure came at a critical juncture in the Premier League calendar, leaving van Veen “wiped out” and battling fatigue as he fights to reclaim his rhythm on the biggest stage.
In a heartfelt social media update, van Veen laid bare the challenges of his recovery. “Following the surgery to remove my kidney stones, recovery has been a process that requires patience,” he shared. “Unfortunately, that is something that does not come easy when all you want to do is compete in this packed schedule. However, the fatigue is real. My energy levels are still lower than I hoped and every day I have to be smart about how I use it. But where my body allows it, I am on the board. Practising, working and rebuilding on getting back to where I want to be.” He emphasised that Berlin remains his goal, adding, “Walking out onto that Premier League stage and making my comeback at the oche is what is driving me through every session, every day. I am doing everything to be there this Thursday. However, I need to listen to my body and not rush into any decisions. As important as the Premier League is, my health is more important. The will is there. The motivation has definitely never left. Now it is about making sure everything aligns in time.”
Price, at 41 and a former world champion, has followed van Veen’s situation closely and even reached out with a cheeky message. “I messaged him to say: ‘Maybe you should take another week off and chill out a little bit!’ He saw the funny side of it but I’m glad he’s back and I’m looking forward to playing him,” Price revealed. Yet behind the banter lies a steely resolve. The Iceman has no intention of easing up, even as he acknowledges the toughness of van Veen’s battle. “I have never had kidney stones but I have heard how tough and painful it can be. Fair play to him to get back as quick as he can,” he said. “I know how tough it is to miss tournaments and having to let points slip. It’s not easy and it’s not something you want to do.”
That empathy, however, stops at the stage door. Price was blunt about his mindset heading into the clash: “I’m up there to win. I am up there not to show mercy to anyone. Hopefully he’s medically fine. I hope he can’t throw darts. I will go out there to try and win. I hope he is going to play rubbish.” He plans to approach the match the same way he did against a struggling Josh Rock in Dublin—treating van Veen as if he were at his absolute peak. “I knew he had been struggling in the Premier League but I know how well he can play. I went and played in Dublin as if I was playing the best version of Josh Rock. That’s what I’ll do against Gian.”
This no-mercy attitude comes as Price reflects on his own Premier League campaign, which he describes as “a little bit up and down.” Sitting third in the table at the midway point, he admits to dropping points in games he feels he should have won but remains optimistic. “Probably some games I’ve lost that I shouldn’t have lost, and there are a couple of points dropped. But yeah, I’m in a decent place,” he explained. His strategy is straightforward: target two points each week. “At the minute, I think I’m two points behind where I wanted to be. So if I can pick that up in the second half, then yeah, I think it’ll be enough.”
The recent Dublin final loss lingers as a minor frustration, but Price has shown impressive growth in his mindset by quickly moving on. “To be honest, I thought about it after and I was a bit disappointed,” he admitted. “But the day after, I haven’t thought about it hardly at all, really. I had a weekend in bed at home, so I haven’t had time to think about it. I took my mind off it, which was good.” A quick getaway to Benidorm—complete with drinks “with the boys”—helped him recharge before heading to Germany. “It was nice just to get away. I was away for three days, had a couple of drinks with the boys on the Sunday, chilled out on the Monday, and came home on Tuesday ready to travel here. It was nice to just put the darts down for a week and relax.”
Price also drew a firm line between his recent encounters with teenage sensation Luke Littler and his past mental battles against Michael van Gerwen. “I don’t think the situation is anything like what it was with Michael,” he insisted. “I’ve been in winning positions—it’s just games that I’ve lost, not because I’m overthinking, just the way the game’s gone. If I played Luke today or tomorrow, I’d be confident that I’m going to win. But yeah, it’s nowhere near like it was against Michael. That was a mental battle—it was something I hadn’t done for so long.”
As the Premier League hurtles toward its second half, the packed schedule and travel demands weigh heavily on all players. Price highlighted the realities of criss-crossing Europe: long security lines, flights, trains, and the constant pressure to perform. He noted that some players skip tougher Euro Tour events, but chasing ranking points often leaves little choice. On the format itself—particularly how illnesses or withdrawals affect the standings—he offered balanced insight: “I don’t think bringing in replacements would be fair. It was the same with challengers—it was a good idea, but unfair because every player is a different level. If someone is ill, there’s no way to get those points back. Someone else might get gifted points, which is a bit unfair. But I don’t know what they’ll do about it. I’ll just keep turning up and playing, I’m not going to moan too much.”
For fans, the Berlin night shapes up as must-watch television: a battle between Price’s veteran grit and van Veen’s youthful resilience, all while the Dutchman battles back from surgery and the Welshman chases playoff glory. Whether van Veen’s energy levels hold or Price’s competitive edge proves too sharp, one thing is certain—the oche in Berlin will witness darts at its most raw, dramatic, and unapologetically human. As the lights dim and the crowd roars, both players will be chasing far more than just points: redemption, momentum, and a shot at the ultimate Premier League prize.
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