Littler Explains 'Cry Baby' Remark Aimed at Van Veen

Luke Littler has shed light on the events that led him to label Gian van Veen a 'cry baby' following their intense Premier League Darts match in Manchester. Van Veen emerged victorious in a controversial encounter earlier this month, which saw Littler react angrily after Van Veen turned towards him while throwing match darts in the deciding leg. According to Van Veen, Littler was 'out of order' for celebrating towards the crowd, prompting him to stare at Littler, who subsequently missed his match darts and lost the contest. However, Littler has now shared his side of the story ahead of the Premier League Darts event in Rotterdam, where the two could potentially meet in the semi-finals. Littler claims that Van Veen had already put down his darts and was staring at him, which he believes was unnecessary and disrespectful. 'I think he's the one who's not doing his job, obviously being respectful. I think that's the first-ever time I've seen someone put their darts down in front of my face,' Littler stated. He also expressed that there was no need for Van Veen to stare at him while he still had not thrown his three darts. Littler added that he was focused on the TV, thinking that Van Veen would not miss his shot, and was caught off guard when Van Veen stared at him. The incident has sparked a rivalry between the two players, with Littler acknowledging that such tensions can draw in more viewers. 'It gets more people watching it. Now people want to watch me and Gian. There's obviously going to be a rivalry,' he said. Littler also reflected on his poor performance last week in Brighton, where he produced his worst televised average and lost to Stephen Bunting. He attributed the defeat to a lack of practice and a lack of motivation. With the Premier League Darts schedule underway, Littler is looking to bounce back and make a strong impression in the upcoming events.