Littler Explains 'Cry Baby' Remark Aimed at Van Veen

Luke Littler has shed light on the reason behind his 'cry baby' comment directed at Gian van Veen following their intense 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 disputed match earlier in April, during which Littler reacted angrily after Van Veen turned towards him while throwing match darts in the decisive leg. Van Veen claimed Littler was 'out of order' for celebrating towards the crowd, which led to their heated exchange. However, Littler has now shared his side of the story ahead of the Premier League Darts event in Rotterdam, where the two may face off in the semi-finals. Littler stated that Van Veen had put his darts down and stared at him, which he found disrespectful. He believes Van Veen overreacted and that there was no need for him to do so. Littler also mentioned that when Van Veen won, he congratulated him and picked up his darts. Littler expressed that he was focused on the game and did not intend to provoke Van Veen. He added that he was looking at the TV, thinking Van Veen would not miss his shot, and was surprised when Van Veen stared at him instead of focusing on his game. Littler also addressed his poor performance last week in Brighton, where he produced his worst televised average. He attributed this to a lack of practice and a lack of desire to be there. Van Veen also lost his first match, and the two did not interact with each other. Littler noted that they practiced in different rooms, which is normal. He also pointed out that other incidents in darts have been more heated than his exchange with Van Veen. Littler believes that the rivalry between them will draw more viewers and create an exciting matchup in the semi-finals.