Luke Littler has described the decision to swap out the dartboard during Saturday's World Darts Championship final as excessive.
Referee George Noble halted proceedings after noticing a small bloodstain on the board's five segment, ordering a replacement to be brought in.
The 18-year-old two-time champion expressed his surprise at the interruption.
"There was nothing to worry about," Littler said, per The Sun. "I don't think they should have stopped the game. I think they should have kept going because me and Gian were out of rhythm a little bit."
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The unexpected pause clearly frustrated both competitors during the Alexandra Palace showpiece.
Following the delay, the source of the blood was later revealed to be Van Veen himself, who had sustained an unusual injury during the interval.
The Dutchman explained that he had caught his left little finger on a toilet door during the break.
Luke Littler has described the decision to swap out the dartboard during Saturday's World Darts Championship final as excessive
|GETTY
"I went to the toilet, I got stuck with my left pinky on the door," Van Veen said. "So I ripped it open and then my pinky hit the board."
The Dutch player acknowledged the bizarre nature of the incident, noting it was far from a typical occurrence.
He said he explained the situation to a confused Littler when the PDC officials decided to change the board.
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Blood spotted on the board during the World Darts Championship final
|GETTY
Littler's confidence in his own game meant the blood's location was never going to affect his performance. The teenager pointed out that his throwing style keeps him firmly focused on the treble 20 area rather than straying towards the lower segments of the board.
"I wasn't going to hit a small five. I was always going to be in that 20 bed," he remarked.
"But yeah, like I said, I won't go into that small five."
His self-assurance proved well-founded as he went on to dominate the remainder of the contest against his Dutch opponent.
Littler's commanding 7-1 triumph secured his place in darts history as the first player to successfully defend the Sid Waddell Trophy since Gary Anderson managed the feat a decade ago.
Five things to know about Luke Littler | PAThe victory at Alexandra Palace marked his second consecutive masterclass at the prestigious venue, cementing his status as the sport's dominant force at just 18 years of age.
Along with retaining his world title, the teenager collected the £1million winner's cheque, adding to his rapidly growing list of achievements in professional darts.
Van Veen, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the board change, was unable to mount a serious challenge against the defending champion.
How he bounces back next year remains to be seen.