Littler Explains 'Cry Baby' Comment Directed at Van Veen

Luke Littler has shed light on why he referred to Gian van Veen as a 'cry baby' following their intense Premier League Darts match in Manchester. Van Veen emerged victorious in a controversial encounter earlier this month, which prompted Littler's angry reaction. The Dutch player had turned towards Littler while throwing match darts in the deciding leg, leading to a dramatic conclusion. In an interview, Littler revealed that Van Veen had effectively given up at the end of the match, which sparked the 'cry baby' comment. Littler stated that as he walked back around, Van Veen had put his darts down, an action Littler deemed disrespectful. He believes Van Veen was out of line and that there was no need for him to stare at Littler when he still had not thrown his three darts. Littler also mentioned that when Van Veen won, he congratulated him and picked up his darts. The incident has garnered significant attention, with some speculating about a potential rivalry between the two players. Littler, however, remains focused on his game, acknowledging that rivalries are a natural part of the sport. He pointed to past heated exchanges between Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney as examples of more intense incidents in darts. With the Premier League Darts schedule underway, Littler is looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance last week, where he produced his worst televised average. He attributed the poor showing to a lack of practice and a general lack of enthusiasm. As the tournament progresses, Littler and Van Veen may face each other again, potentially in the semi-finals in Rotterdam. The young player remains optimistic about his chances and is determined to improve his game.