Littler's Exit from Premier League Quarter-Finals: A Fallout from Van Veen Row?

World champion Luke Littler suffered a setback in Brighton, recording his lowest TV average in a PDC match as he was defeated by Stephen Bunting. According to Wayne Mardle, Littler's early exit from the Premier League quarter-finals may have been a consequence of his altercation with Gian van Veen the previous week. Littler, who was booed by the crowd in Brighton, seemed unsettled and failed to recover from a poor start. Bunting, who celebrated his 41st birthday, capitalized on Littler's struggles, despite not being at his best, hitting just six of his 21 darts at a double. Former Premier League star Mardle believed Littler was not his usual self, looking flat and lacking his usual directness. Bunting expressed sympathy for Littler, stating he's a fantastic lad and didn't deserve the hostile treatment from the crowd. The victory marked a significant win for Bunting, while Littler will need to regroup and bounce back from this setback. Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton produced a stunning comeback to defeat Michael Van Gerwen, moving three points ahead of Littler in the table.