Littler Suffers Early Exit in Brighton, Mardle Cites Van Veen Altercation as Possible Factor

Luke Littler's Premier League campaign hit a snag as he was booed by the crowd in Brighton, ultimately succumbing to Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals. This disappointing loss comes on the heels of his highly publicized spat with Gian van Veen the previous week, leading Wayne Mardle to speculate that the incident may have had a lingering impact on Littler's performance. The world champion's lowest televised PDC average of 83.94, coupled with his failure to hit a single maximum, underscored a lackluster display. In contrast, Bunting, despite an unconvincing start, capitalized on Littler's struggles to secure a crucial win. The evening also saw Jonny Clayton stage a remarkable comeback against Michael Van Gerwen, propelling him to the top of the table and setting the stage for an intense competition as the league progresses.