I had to douse smokin' Soots

Dutch ace Van Veen: Scots star's big miss let me back in for huge win

- BY CRAIG SWAN

GIAN VAN VEEN reckons Alan Soutar pushed him to extreme levels as he smashed the highlight show of the tournament.

The Dutch kid came through 3-1 with a blistering fightback against the Scot.

‘Van Veen cracked a fabulous average of over 108, the best of the World Championship so far by a stretch, and it was 121 ina jaw-dropping final set.

But the European champion was first to admit that a crucial Soutar bust at a pivotal moment helped swing the tie.

The Angus firefighter started superbly to take the first set in emphatic style to then need 71 for the second.

Soutar had one in hand to double eight, but it agonisingly slipped a millimetre below the target into the double 16 bed to bust his score.

Van Veen, right, grabbed the lifeline to level and was like a runaway train thereafter.