“Littler could be in trouble” – Paul Nicholson weighs up Gian van Veen’s World Grand Prix chances
Paul Nicholson Warns “Littler Could Be in Trouble” Ahead of World Grand Prix Clash with Gian van Veen
Darts analyst Paul Nicholson has issued a stark warning about Luke Littler’s first-round matchup against Gian van Veen at the 2025 World Grand Prix, suggesting “Littler could be in trouble” due to the Dutch teenager’s aggressive style and familiarity with the double-in/double-out format. In a recent Darts News interview, Nicholson, a former PDC pro and commentator, weighed up van Veen’s chances, praising the 20-year-old’s fearless approach and recent form as a potential upset threat to the world No. 2. The event, running October 6-12 at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena with a £600,000 prize fund (£120,000 to the winner), sees Littler as the No. 2 seed facing van Veen in a best-of-five sets opener on Monday— a tie that could define early momentum for “The Nuke” amid his elbow recovery and PCOM vulnerabilities.
Nicholson’s Analysis: Van Veen’s Edge in the Format
Nicholson highlighted van Veen’s comfort in the unique double-start, double-finish rules, where precision on doubles is paramount. “Gian’s got that fire—he’s young, hungry, and thrives under pressure in this format,” Nicholson said, noting van Veen’s 2024 World Youth Championship win over Littler (5-3) as evidence of his capability. Van Veen, ranked around No. 45 on the Order of Merit, has impressed on the Pro Tour with a Players Championship 26 title in April 2025 and consistent Last 32 runs, averaging over 95 in recent events. Their head-to-head is 1-1: Littler won the 2024 youth final, but van Veen edged a 6-5 thriller at the 2025 International Darts Open.
Nicholson warned that Littler’s recent elbow niggle—leading to his PC 28 withdrawal—and selective Pro Tour play (tied 58th on PCOM with £21,000) could leave him rusty. “Luke’s a machine, but if van Veen starts strong on doubles, Littler could be in trouble early,” he added, emphasizing the Dutchman’s aggressive scoring as a counter to Littler’s finesse.
The Matchup: Youth vs. Experience in Leicester
As No. 2 seed, Littler enters with a 102.5 average in recent Pro Tour play and an 8-2 edge over van Gerwen, but van Veen’s youth (four years younger than Littler’s debut age) and fearless mentality mirror “The Nuke’s” own rise. A win propels Littler to a potential second-round vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode or Michael van Gerwen—a blockbuster given MvG’s 14-3 H2H lead (though Littler won their Worlds final). Van Veen, a Pro Tour qualifier, views it as a “dream debut” against his idol.
The full first-round draw includes Humphries vs. Aspinall and Rock vs. Springer, but Littler-van Veen steals the spotlight.
| Player | Strengths | Threat to Littler |
|——–|———–|——————-|
| Luke Littler | High averages (102+), nine-darters, mental resilience | Elbow recovery; format rust from skips |
| Gian van Veen | Aggressive scoring, doubles precision, youth fire | 1-1 H2H; recent Pro Tour form |
Littler’s Stakes: Beyond the Upset Risk
Littler’s focus remains on majors amid PCOM peril (just £1,000 above cutoff), with a hinted 2026 “break” for girlfriend Faith. Nicholson’s take adds pressure: A van Veen upset would echo Littler’s rare vulnerabilities, but “The Nuke” thrives as underdog. Fans on X buzz with #LittlerVee n: “Paul’s right—Gian’s got bite!”
As the £600k event kicks off live on Sky Sports (UK) and PDCTV globally, Nicholson’s words heighten the drama—Littler in trouble, or just another stepping stone?
