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

World champion Luke Littler suffered a setback in Brighton, recording his lowest PDC TV average in a defeat to Stephen Bunting. According to Wayne Mardle, this early exit from the Premier League quarter-finals could be linked to his public spat with Gian van Veen the previous week. Littler faced a hostile crowd in Brighton, which seemed to rattle him, and he was unable to recover from a poor start. His average of 83.94 was the lowest in a televised PDC match for the 19-year-old. Former Premier League star Mardle believes Littler was not his usual self, appearing flat and lacking directness in his throws. Mardle suggests that the incident with Van Veen may have had a 'knock-on' effect on Littler's performance. Bunting, who turned 41 on Thursday, capitalized on Littler's struggles, although he himself did not have a comfortable win, hitting just six of his 21 darts at a double. The crowd's negative reaction to Littler did not go unnoticed, with Bunting expressing sympathy for his opponent, stating that he is a 'fantastic lad' and does not deserve such treatment. Three-time world champion John Part noted that Littler 'didn't look interested' during the match, speculating that the crowd's behavior may have been off-putting. Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton made a remarkable comeback to beat Michael Van Gerwen, moving three points ahead of Littler in the table. The Welshman confirmed that Littler and Van Veen practiced in separate rooms, downplaying any potential controversy. As the Premier League season continues, Littler will need to regain his momentum to stay in contention. The competition will next move to Rotterdam, where Dutch No 1 Gian van Veen will host Luke Humphries, and Michael van Gerwen will face Jonny Clayton.