Littler Explains 'Cry Baby' Remark Directed at Van Veen

Luke Littler has shed light on the reason behind his 'cry baby' comment aimed 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 Littler to make the remark. The controversy began when Van Veen won a disputed match earlier in April, during which Littler became agitated after Van Veen turned towards him while throwing match darts in the decisive leg. Van Veen had stated that Littler was 'out of order' for celebrating towards the crowd, which led him to stare at Littler. However, Littler has now shared his perspective on the incident ahead of the Premier League Darts in Rotterdam. Littler revealed that as he walked back around, he was still looking at the crowd, and Van Veen had put his darts down, which Littler felt was disrespectful. Littler believes Van Veen was at fault for staring at him while he still had not thrown his three darts. Littler also stated that there was no need for Van Veen to react in such a manner, especially since Littler had congratulated him on his win. The incident has sparked a rivalry between the two players, with Littler acknowledging that such tensions can increase viewership and create a more engaging competition. Littler recently produced his worst televised average in the Premier League Darts, which he attributed to a lack of practice and a general disinterest in being there. Van Veen also lost his first match, and the two players did not interact with each other, practicing in separate rooms. Littler downplayed the incident, pointing out that other controversies in darts have been more heated, such as the arguments between Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney. The rivalry between Littler and Van Veen is expected to continue, with the possibility of the two players meeting in the semi-finals in Rotterdam.