World Championship runner-up Gian van Veen has withdrawn from Thursday’s Premier League Darts night in Dublin after being diagnosed with kidney stones.
The 23-year-old, who lost to Luke Littler at Alexandra Palace in his maiden world final appearance in January, remains in hospital following the diagnosis and will not feature on night seven at the 3Arena.
Van Veen currently sits fourth in the Premier League table after three runner-up finishes from the opening six rounds.
His scheduled opponent, fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen, will now receive a bye directly into the semi-finals before facing the winner of the match between Littler and Stephen Bunting.
Van Gerwen will also earn two league points and a plus one leg difference, while Van Veen’s leg difference will minus six as a result of his withdrawal.
Van Gerwen previously withdrew from Night Three of this year’s Premier League due to illness, handing Little a route straight through to the semi-finals.
He returned to action the following week, but has not got another victory on the board in the last three weeks.
Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton will aim to build on his eight-point lead at the top of the standings when he faces world number two Luke Humphries in their quarter-final.
In addition to Littler vs Bunting and Clayton vs Humphries, Josh Rock is bidding to finally get off the mark in this year’s competition when he takes on Gerwyn Price.
The top four players after 16 weeks will qualify for finals night at London’s O2 Arena on 28 May.
Clayton, Littler, Price and Van Veen currently occupy those position, with defending champion Humphries just outside of the qualifying spots.
However, there are still 10 weeks of action to go, leaving plenty of time for the standings to change before this year’s finals night in London.
