Littler Explains 'Cry Baby' Remark Directed at Van Veen

Luke Littler has shed light on the incident that led him to label Gian van Veen a 'cry baby' following their heated Premier League Darts match in Manchester. According to Littler, Van Veen essentially conceded at the end of the match, prompting the remark. The controversy began when Van Veen won a contentious match earlier in April, during which Littler became upset after Van Veen turned towards him while throwing match darts in a decisive leg. Van Veen had stated that Littler was 'out of order' for celebrating in the direction of the crowd, which caused him to stare at Littler. However, Littler has now shared his side of the story, revealing that as he walked back, Van Veen had put his darts down, an action Littler deemed disrespectful. Littler expressed that there was no need for Van Veen to behave in such a manner, especially considering Littler had congratulated Van Veen on his win. Littler also mentioned that he didn't see the need for Van Veen to stare at him when he still had darts to throw, suggesting that Van Veen should have instead focused on his game. The incident has sparked a rivalry between the two players, with Littler acknowledging that such tensions can attract more viewers. Despite this, Littler is choosing to focus on his game, particularly after a disappointing performance last week in Brighton, where he posted his worst televised average. The young player attributed the poor showing to a lack of practice and a general lack of enthusiasm for the event. With both Littler and Van Veen looking to bounce back from recent losses, they may face each other in the semi-finals in Rotterdam, potentially reigniting their on-stage rivalry.