World Darts Championship star Gian van Veen deploys a genius 'ghost throw' which has been key to his success in this year's tournament.
The world youth champion has been a revelation in the 2026 tournament and booked his place in the final four with a stunning 5-1 win over Luke Humphries in the quarter finals.
The 23-year-old has bagged a guaranteed £100,000 in prize money following his impressive run, which comes after previously failing to make it past the second round.
Van Veen, who came into the tournament as the third favourite, beat world No.2 and 2024 champion Humphries in two other finals before dispatching him at Alexandra Palace.
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That win, coupled with Michael van Gerwen's early exit, means he is now the No.1 Dutch player in the world and has moved up to No.3 in the world rankings - which looks set to result in an invitation for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
What is dartitis and how does it impact Van Veen?
Van Veen's incredible performances are made even more impressive when you consider that Van Veen has struggled with dartitis.
The psychological condition is an elbow tendon injury affects darts players in a huge way, with issues that are mental and physical.
It can make it extremely for players to release the dart at the right time, with sufferers including late five-time world champion Eric Bristow, female sensation Beau Greaves and more recently Nathan Aspinall, who was "in tears" when dartitis took over and cost him a 2023 Premier League match against Peter Wright.
It can be linked to lacking confidence, anxiety and overthinking on the oche.
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In Van Veen's case, he began to struggle when he was around 18 or 19 and developed a fear of failing on the big stage that meant he had difficulty throwing.
At one point, he was "really crying my eyes out in the middle of Barnsley Metrodome" after an opponent accused him of faking dartitis and producing gamesmanship.
However, after his performances improved, Van Veen was able to use the condition to aid his game - performing a ghost throw which makes his arm nice and loose for his actual throw.
Though it is a lasting effect of dartitis, the practice element makes it easier for him to throw and helps with 180s and finishing.
Against Humphries, Van Veen had an average of 105.41 - having quickly grown into one of the most consistent players around.
"I was embracing it instead of trying to get rid of it," ‘The Giant’ told the Tops and Tales podcast, as per oche180.
"I was learning to deal with it as I am playing. I started playing better, so my confidence grew and I was at a point where I was like, who cares what everyone thinks? It’s about you. You’re playing.
“You’re doing it for yourself. Of course, you want to make everyone proud, but you’re playing for yourself and if you lose, you’re going to be the only one who gets affected.
“I think that’s what really helped me with my game. People still see me do the ghost throw. I think that’s what it’s called, just to get my arm loosened up.
“I think that’s still an effect of what dartitis did on me, because I didn’t do it before, but I’ve done it now. But I’m okay with that. I’m just embracing it.”
Van Veen has been tipped as a major threat to Littler and Humphries going forward and is enjoying performing on the big stage and moving near the top of the rankings alongside the big two.
He now takes on two-time world champion Gary Anderson in the semi final on Friday, with the winner playing either Littler or in-form Ryan Searle.
"Of course, everyone said it before the year, but with the prize money increases in the World Championship are going to have a lot of effect on the rankings," Van Veen said in his press conference on his new ranking.
"But to still be in the semifinals, Dutch No. 1 now and No. 3 in the world, it's an amazing feeling.
"I couldn't even dream about it when I was a little kid, especially as a Dutchman. You always looked up to Raymond van Barneveld and then later against Michael Van Gerwen. So yeah, it's amazing."
Topics: Darts, World Darts Championship
Josh Lawless