Littler's Loss in Brighton: Was His Exit a Ripple Effect from the Van Veen Dispute?

World champion Luke Littler suffered a disappointing loss to Stephen Bunting in the Premier League quarter-finals in Brighton, with his lowest-ever televised PDC average. This defeat has sparked debate about whether his exit was a direct result of the controversy with Gian van Veen the previous week. Littler, who was booed by the crowd, seemed unsettled and failed to recover from a poor start. Former Premier League star Wayne Mardle believes Littler's performance was impacted by the earlier spat, suggesting it was a 'knock-on' effect. Bunting, who turned 41, capitalized on Littler's struggles and secured a win despite not being at his best, hitting just six of his 21 darts at a double. The loss has significant implications for Littler, who must now regroup and focus on the upcoming matches to stay in contention.