Littler Faces Backlash in Brighton, Exits Premier League Quarter-Final

World champion Luke Littler suffered a disappointing loss to Stephen Bunting in the Premier League quarter-final, with his lowest PDC TV average. This defeat came a week after his highly publicized spat with Gian van Veen in Manchester. Littler was met with a hostile crowd in Brighton, which seemed to rattle him, and he was unable to recover from a poor start. Former Premier League star Wayne Mardle believes Littler's exit was a 'knock-on' effect from the previous week's incident. Littler's average of 83.94 was his lowest in a televised PDC match, and he failed to hit a single maximum. In contrast, Bunting, who turned 41 on Thursday, secured a win despite not being at his best, hitting just six of his 21 darts at a double. The crowd's reaction to Littler was telling, with ironic cheers during his poor start, and he eventually exited the stage meekly after shaking Bunting's hand. Mardle felt that Littler was 'nowhere near his usual standard' and that his performance was likely affected by the events of the previous week. Bunting addressed the crowd's behavior towards Littler, saying he didn't like to see his opponent treated that way, despite being a 'fantastic lad.' Three-time world champion John Part also shared his thoughts on Littler's performance, stating that he 'didn't look interested' and that Bunting 'did what he had to do' to secure the win. Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton produced a stunning comeback to beat Michael Van Gerwen in the final, moving three points ahead of Littler in the table. The Welshman also revealed that Littler and Van Veen practiced in separate rooms at the Brighton Centre. The Premier League season continues, with the top four players set to progress to Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 28.