Littler Faces Backlash in Brighton, Exit Possibly Linked to Van Veen Dispute

Luke Littler's recent performance in Brighton was marred by boos from the crowd, leading to his lowest PDC TV average in a defeat to Stephen Bunting. This dismal display has sparked speculation that his exit from the Premier League quarter-final may be connected to his highly publicized spat with Gian van Veen the previous week. Former Premier League star Wayne Mardle suggested that Littler's subpar performance could be a 'knock-on' effect from the earlier incident, stating that it would be a coincidence if the two events were unrelated. Littler's poor showing was evident as he failed to recover from a rocky start, with the crowd subjecting him to jeers and ironic cheers throughout the match. In contrast, Bunting's victory was marked by his ability to capitalize on Littler's mistakes, despite not being at his best. The 41-year-old Bunting acknowledged the hostile crowd's impact on Littler, expressing sympathy for his opponent. Meanwhile, three-time world champion John Part observed that Littler 'didn't look interested' during the match, speculating that the crowd's behavior may have been off-putting for the young player. As the Premier League continues, Jonny Clayton has taken the lead in the table after a stunning comeback against Michael Van Gerwen, while Littler faces an uphill battle to regain his position. The upcoming matches promise to be intense, with Dutch No 1 Gian van Veen set to host Luke Humphries, and Littler facing off against Gerwyn Price in a crucial battle.