Littler's Exit from Premier League Quarter-Finals: A Ripple Effect from Van Veen Dispute?

Luke Littler faced a hostile crowd in Brighton, resulting in his lowest PDC TV average, and former Premier League star Wayne Mardle believes this was a direct consequence of his spat with Gian van Veen the previous week. Littler suffered a last-eight loss to Stephen Bunting, who could have secured a more comfortable victory. Mardle stated that Littler seemed 'flat' and was 'lobbing the darts,' suggesting a carryover effect from the previous week's incident. Bunting expressed sympathy for Littler, saying he's a 'fantastic lad' and didn't deserve the crowd's negative reaction. Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton made a stunning comeback to defeat Michael Van Gerwen, moving three points ahead of Littler in the table. The Premier League continues, with the next night of action taking place in Rotterdam.