Gerwyn Price has promised to show Dutchman Gian van Veen “no mercy” when they meet on stage as the Premier League Darts roadshow head to Berlin on Thursday night.
Van Veen is looking forward to getting “back to work” after the Dutchman missed last week’s trip to Dublin after he needed surgery to remove kidney stones, and also sat out the European Tour tournament in Belgium.
The world championship finalist has made the trip to Germany despite feeling fatigued and having low energy levels.
“I know how tough it is to miss tournaments and let your points slip, it’s not easy and it’s not something you want to do,” said Price.
“I messaged him [Gian] and said, ‘maybe you should take another week off’, he saw the funny side but I’m glad he’s back and I’m looking forward to playing him!”
He later quipped: “I hope he’s going to play rubbish. I’m up there to win and show no mercy to anyone. Hopefully he’s medically fine but I just hope he can’t throw darts.
“I’ve never had kidney stones but I know from people how tough and painful it can be so fair play to him to get back as quick as he has but I’m not sure how well or unwell he is. Fingers crossed he’s medically fine.”
Van Veen’s Dutch compatriot Van Gerwen has shown his sympathy but admits the format can be “gruelling”.
“We’re all human at the end of the day and it would be really weird if 16 or 17 weeks in a row no one has anything. Having his kidney stones removed is not a pleasant thing but it is what it is,” said the seven-time Premier League champion.
“It’s a very short format with a lot of travelling. You’re playing against the top players week after week it can be hard sometimes, especially when you’re in a situation where you don’t have any points yet.”
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Watch Van Veen hit this incredible nine-darter in the Poland Darts Open final against Luke Littler
‘He’s a fantastic darts player’ – Van Gerwen defends Humphries
Michael van Gerwen has defended Luke Humphries after the Premier League champion received criticism for lacking ‘stage aura’
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, defended Premier League champion Luke Humphries after he received criticism for lacking ‘aura’ from content creator Charlie Murphy.
Humphries scooped his ninth European Tour trophy over the weekend after once again seeing off Jonny Clayton to win his maiden Belgian Darts Open title, which went some way to silencing criticism for his recent lack of silverware.
Humphries took umbrage to Charlie Murphy, a darts content creator with more than 372k followers on TikTok and 86k on Instagram, who had given an interview to Online Betting Guide (OLBG) questioning whether ‘Cool Hand’ was lacking “stage aura or confidence” in recent years.
“Luke [Humphries] is an absolutely fantastic dart player,” said Van Gerwen, who opens his Berlin campaign against the Newbury arrowsmith.
“If someone loses his aura or anything, that’s not up to me to judge about that. “I know Luke is a fantastic guy and an even better dart player. I have to battle against him.”
Humphries is in the ascendency, moving into the top four for the first time since Night One and the defending champion hopes the win can ignite his Premier League season.
“I’m working so hard to try and push every dart player and be the best version of myself,” claimed Humphries.
“I love this sport, I love being a part of it and winning trophies means the world to me.
“I put myself under pressure in Wieze, but it was really nice to get that winning feeling again.
“When you’re not winning as much, it becomes harder and you feel the nerves, but hopefully I’m going to keep pushing now.”
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Highlights of the final between Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price in Dublin…
Luke Littler is looking to go top of the standings as the darting roadshow rolls into Berlin’s Uber Arena.
Littler came off the canvas twice to claim his second nightly win of the season during his remarkable triumph in Dublin last week, and is hoping to continue to make inroads in the German capital.
The 2024 champion defeated Stephen Bunting in a high-quality tussle before coming back from 5-3 and 5-0 down to see off Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price respectively to win his second night in three weeks, and assert himself in second place in the table.
‘The Nuke’ sits just three points adrift of league leader Jonny Clayton, threatening to move into first place and possibly secure his third first-placed league finish in his third appearance in the Premier League.
“I’ve finished top in the last two years and I want to do it again,” said Littler, who faces Bunting in his opening game in a rematch of their quarter-final in Dublin.
“With the start Jonny had and the start I’ve had, obviously it’s good to see I’ve closed the gap to Jonny in second spot.
“I’m right behind him now, so we’ll go and chase him!”
What’s happening on Premier League Night Eight in Berlin?
Night Eight of the BetMGM Premier League will take place in Berlin on Thursday March 26, as Littler begins his bid for a third nightly victory of 2026 against Bunting at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
League leader Clayton will take on Rock in the evening’s opener, Humphries and Van Gerwen also go head-to-head, while Price takes on Van Veen for a place in the semi-finals.
Quarter-final fixtures for 14 of the 16 league nights are in draw bracket order, with fixtures for Night Eight and Night 16 determined by league standings heading into each night.
Who will win this year’s Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will be defending his title and you can watch the action every single Thursday until May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.