Gian van Veen has made it clear that he sees no reason to sit down with Luke Littler to smooth over the tension that erupted during their clash at Night Nine of the Premier League in Manchester. The Dutchman, who secured a contentious victory in early April, recalled the moment when Littler’s reaction to a missed double sparked a heated exchange. Van Veen explained to Sky Sports that Littler’s decision to celebrate toward the crowd was "out of order" and provoked him to stare back. Littler, in turn, missed his own match darts at double and ultimately lost the leg.
Ahead of this week’s Premier League Darts event in Rotterdam, Littler finally offered his side of the story during a live Sky Sports broadcast at 6 p.m. on Thursday. He insisted his celebratory gesture was aimed at his girlfriend and his father, not at the audience, and he described van Veen’s stare as unnecessary because van Veen had not yet thrown his three darts. Littler also labeled the Dutchman a "cry baby" for putting his darts down while the leg was still in progress.
Listening to Littler’s account has not altered van Veen’s perspective. He reiterated that he holds no hard feelings, but he also has no desire to reopen the discussion.
"It’s a difficult one. For myself, not really – I don’t need a conversation. He said his piece the other day. I still have the same view as I had two weeks ago when it all happened," van Veen said.
He added that if Littler wishes to bury the hatchet, that is fine, but he does not feel any animosity toward his opponent. "He has his opinion and he is entitled to it. I still have mine," van Veen continued.
"I have looked back at it, I have seen the videos and I still stand by my opinion. It is what it is and we just have to go forward with it." Van Veen has been a prominent figure in the darts community over the past few weeks, thriving on the sport’s occasional aggression but preferring to remain an observer rather than a participant.
"I enjoy it, but only if I’m not involved. I think that’s best for me," he explained. He believes a little controversy can be healthy for darts, yet he never wants to be at the centre of it.
When asked about future match‑ups with Littler, van Veen expressed genuine excitement. "Of course I’m looking forward to the next time I’m playing him. He’ll probably be even more fired up, maybe averaging 110 or 112 against me, but that’s how good he is. I’m especially looking forward to playing him next, hopefully tomorrow." He also hinted that a friendship could develop after the heat of the moment passes.
"For sure we can be friends in the future. Like I said, there are no hard feelings on my side.
It all happened in the heat of the moment and he has his opinion, I have mine – that’s how it goes." Michael van Gerwen, often referred to as the "Green Machine," weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that the media has exaggerated the incident. He compared it to his own legendary clashes with Phil Taylor, noting that if this spat were truly monumental, they would be making headlines every week.
"People love to make a story out of a million incidents. This is absolutely nothing. Nothing really happened.
If it were big, I’d be in the papers with Phil Taylor every week," van Gerwen said. The discussion was also a topic on the "Love The Darts" podcast, where hosts Michael Bridge and Chris Murphy dissected the fallout.
Murphy remarked, "The key is whether we can park it and move on. It spilled over into the next week, and it’s now about whether Littler can put it aside and return to doing what he does best – winning darts matches." Bridge added that Littler’s persona resembles a WWE‑style villain, while van Veen is seen as a mild‑mannered competitor. "I don’t see any problem with the needle at all. Gian is a nice, mild‑mannered guy and I think it didn’t help in terms of what Luke did," Bridge said.
Bridge also noted that the incident may have affected Littler’s performance, citing an 83.0 average against Stephen Bunting in Brighton as evidence that the controversy weighed on him. He expressed concern that the situation could spiral if not managed properly.
Littler, preparing for the Rotterdam leg, admitted he expects a chilly reception from Dutch fans. In an interview with Online Darts, he said, "I’m expecting the worst anyway. When I go to Liverpool or Leeds, I just expect the worst.
If the crowd isn’t that bad, you take it on the chin, but I expect the worst." He recalled being booed in Brighton and how he shrugged it off, wondering why the incident lingered a week later. "In Rotterdam I will give it a bit if I win. I’m sure I will get booed. I’m learning – I just play my game and see how it plays out," he added.
Littler further explained that his preparation for Brighton was limited and that he didn’t want to be there because of the hostile crowd, but he accepted that it was part of the sport. He is determined to improve his performance, hoping to add more points and nightly wins to his tally. "Like Jonny said, ‘I’m chasing him now.’ Jonny said he’s only bothered about the top four, so I can definitely chase that top spot again. I’ll definitely come alive in the next few weeks," Littler said.
For van Veen, this Rotterdam night holds special meaning. It marks his first Premier League appearance on home soil, although he is no stranger to the Ahoy arena, having attended the inaugural Premier League night in 2016 when Raymond van Barneveld made his iconic walk‑on. "As a kid, the first time it was ever held in Ahoy Rotterdam, I was there in the crowd with the legendary Raymond van Barneveld walk‑on," van Veen recalled. "Now to experience that myself, as Dutch No 1 and world No 3, is a dream coming true.
My only hope was not to face Michael in the quarters so I could enjoy it on my own – thankfully that didn’t happen, so I get to walk out on that stage and I’m really looking forward to it." The Premier League continues to travel across the English Channel, with Rotterdam hosting another crucial night of action. Dutch No 1 Gian van Veen will face Luke Humphries on his first home‑soil Premier League night, while local hero Michael van Gerwen takes on Jonny Clayton.
Luke Littler will clash with Gerwyn Price in a battle that could shape the top of the table, and Stephen Bunting hopes to push further toward the Play‑Offs against Josh Rock. Points are awarded each night – five for the winner, three for the runner‑up, and two for each semi‑finalist – to build the league standings. The top four after all nights will advance to the Finals Night at The O2 in London on Thursday, 28 May. Fans can follow the drama each Thursday on Sky Sports, and stream the Premier League Darts and other top‑tier sport via NOW.
In summary, while the spat between van Veen and Littler has generated plenty of headlines and fan commentary, both players appear ready to move forward. Van Veen remains firm in his view, yet he harbours no lingering resentment, and Littler is prepared to face whatever reaction the Dutch crowd may give him.
The upcoming Rotterdam showdown promises high‑quality darts, a chance for redemption, and perhaps, in time, a thawed relationship between the two competitors.