Gian van Veen, fresh from his European Championship victory in Dortmund, speaks on using his strong form to fuel his upcoming performances and Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts campaign.
Van Veen has generated global darting headlines by storming to his first Premier televised title last month in Dortmund.
A 11-10 victory in the final over world number one Luke Humphries reaffirmed the Dutchman’s credentials as one of the sport’s top players, bursting into the world’s top eight for the first time.
The 23-year-old’s European Championship success follows a stellar year, including his first Players Championship title in March on top of three runs to the final in Pro Tour events.
“I don't think it really has settled in yet,” said van Veen, who shot up to world number seven in becoming the new European Champion.
“I think it's going to take a couple of months before it really does.
“The past week and a half have been a full week of living on cloud nine.
“I feel really good, of course, I got a massive confidence boost from Dortmund.”
The final against Humphries went all the way to a last-leg decider, but van Veen overcame the pressure, sealing the title on a 100 checkout with Humphries missing a match dart.
After making a European Tour final in April but losing a last-leg shootout to Joe Cullen, winning the final leg in Dortmund has provided the Dutchman with a huge confidence boost.
“You can always look back on that: in the highest-pressure moment you're able to hit those deciding doubles,” affirmed van Veen.
“That's given me a massive confidence boost going into the rest of this year and many more years to come.
“You know you're able to do it on these high-pressure moments.”
Van Veen’s triumph has set more eyes on the Dutchman as a true darting force to be reckoned with, possibly piling more pressure on the young star.
However, the new Dutch world number two is taking this in his stride, with murmurs of a possible Premier League inclusion at the back of his mind.
“I want to be involved, and it would be really nice, but as soon as I enter the stage or in the prep room, I don't think about it anymore, I just focus on that game,” insisted van Veen.
“I think just continue what I've been doing, especially this year. My standard has been really good this year.
“These couple of months of the year, the most money is to be earned for the ranking, so if you want to be in form, this is the right moment and luckily I am.”
The world number seven will need to be in top form for the Grand Slam. He has been pitted in a group with World Cup winner Josh Rock and fellow rising Dutch star Wessel Nijman for the second year in a row, as well as Women’s Matchplay champion Lisa Ashton.
“If you look at pot three, I think Wessel Nyman was one of the hardest one you could have got,” said van Veen of his compatriot.
“He's in such good form winning the Pro Tour last week [Players Championship 34]. So, it's going to be a real good battle.
“Josh Rock is also a fantastic player, in really good form this year. Lisa Ashton won the Woman's World Matchplay Championship – it's going to be a really tough group.”