Littler Explains 'Cry Baby' Remark Aimed at Van Veen

Luke Littler has shed light on why he labeled Gian van Veen a 'cry baby' following their intense Premier League Darts match in Manchester. According to Littler, Van Veen's actions at the end of the match, which Van Veen won, prompted the remark. Littler claims that after he had thrown his darts and was walking back, Van Veen placed his darts on the oche in front of him, which Littler perceived as disrespectful. Littler expressed that there was no need for Van Veen to do so, especially since he had not yet thrown his final darts. The incident occurred after a dramatic deciding leg where Littler missed match darts at double, leading to Van Veen's victory. Van Veen had previously stated that Littler's celebrations towards the crowd were 'out of order,' causing him to stare at Littler. However, Littler maintains that his actions were directed at his girlfriend and her father, as well as the crowd, and not intended to provoke Van Veen. The young darts player also discussed his poor performance the following week in Brighton, attributing it to a lack of practice and a general lack of motivation. Littler believes that the controversy surrounding his exchange with Van Veen will only serve to fuel their rivalry and attract more viewers to their future matches.