Nine-dart Van Veen completes ET9-10 qualification double

Gian van Veen (PDC)

Gian van Veen landed a superb nine-darter en route to completing a European Tour qualification double on Monday, after winning through both Tour Card Holder Qualifiers in Wigan.

Tour Card Holder Qualifiers for ET9-10 took place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre on Monday afternoon, with each qualifier producing 24 players for each event.

The Interwetten European Darts Grand Prix (ET9) will be held at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen from May 26-28, while the Interwetten European Darts Matchplay is set to take place at the Trier Arena from June 30-July 2.

Van Veen sealed his spot in both events with a series of sublime performances, achieving perfection against his compatriot Jermaine Wattimena in the opening round of ET10 qualification.

The 20-year-old averaged over 108 to come through a ten-leg thriller against Wattimena, which he backed up with a 106 average in his decider against Austria’s Rusty-Jake Rodriguez.

Van Veen, who also toppled Premier League star Chris Dobey in his ET9 decider, was one of six players to complete a qualification double, alongside fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.

Van Barneveld continued his superb 2023 European Tour qualification record by booking his place in Sindelfingen and Trier, which ensures he will have competed in nine of the year’s first ten events.

Former Grand Slam of Darts champion Jose de Sousa and Australia’s World Cup winner Simon Whitlock also came through both events, alongside Ryan Joyce and Graham Hall.

Two-time TV title winner Daryl Gurney and three-time European Tour event winner Ian White were among the high-profile names to win through the ET9 Qualifier, alongside Callan Rydz.

Steve Beaton will also feature in Sindelfingen – the scene of his German Darts Masters success in 2013 – after coming through a deciding-leg tussle against Stephen Burton.

European Champion Ross Smith and ten-time TV title winner James Wade were amongst the 24 players to prevail in the ET10 Qualifier, with Smith set to be seeded at ET9 next month.

Belgium’s number two Kim Huybrechts also confirmed his place at the European Darts Matchplay, where he will be joined by Stephen Bunting, Brendan Dolan, Jim Williams and William O’Connor.

However, Saturday’s Players Championship Nine winner Krzysztof Ratajski missed out in both qualifiers, while two-time World Champion Gary Anderson was unable to book his place in Sindelfingen.

Elsewhere, UK Open champion Andrew Gilding – who will be seeded at ET9 – suffered a 6-1 reverse against Germany’s Daniel Klose in the final round of ET10 qualification.

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ET9 Tour Card Holder Qualifiers: Ryan Joyce, Steve Beaton, Jose de Sousa, Simon Whitlock, Keegan Brown, Raymond van Barneveld, Gian van Veen, Lee Evans, Dylan Slevin, Ritchie Edhouse, Pascal Rupprecht, Graham Hall, Callan Rydz, Graham Usher, Adam Smith-Neale, Jermaine Wattimena, Martijn Kleermaker, Josh Payne, Ross Montgomery, Ricky Evans, Daryl Gurney, Ian White, Madars Razma, Alan Soutar.

ET10 Tour Card Holder Qualifiers: George Killington, Stephen Burton, Daniel Klose, Luke Woodhouse, Jose de Sousa, Simon Whitlock, Ross Smith, Raymond van Barneveld, Stephen Bunting, Connor Scutt, Brendan Dolan, Ted Evetts, James Wade, Jim Williams, Keane Barry, Gian van Veen, Graham Hall, Ryan Joyce, Kim Huybrechts, James Wilson, Martin Lukeman, William O'Connor, Mickey Mansell, Matt Campbell.