Gian van Veen turned his US Darts Masters debut into immediate quarter-final territory after easing past Fred Krueger at Madison Square Garden.
The Dutch number one beat Krueger 6-1 in Thursday night’s first round, punishing a loose doubling display from the American qualifier and moving into a Friday night meeting with Jonny Clayton. The PDC’s official update said Van Veen “eases through to Finals Night” after a composed opening assignment in New York.
Van Veen Gets Clayton Test
Clayton joined him in the last eight with a 6-2 win over Gary Mawson, leaving two high-grade rhythm players in one of the cleaner tactical matches of the quarter-final draw. The winner will move into the semi-finals later on Friday, with the tournament closing on the same night.
For Van Veen, the value is twofold: a debut World Series run in the United States and another chance to press his case as the tour’s leading Dutch contender while Michael van Gerwen sits out this stop.
Van Veen’s draw had already been framed as a major World Series opportunity when he was handed Krueger in the opening round. The result now makes that route tangible rather than theoretical.
The official PDC day-one results also confirmed Friday’s other quarter-finals: Luke Littler v Jim Long, Gerwyn Price v James Wade, and Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting.
