Luke Littler showed he can ignore hostile crowds when he claimed Night 12 of the Premier League Darts in Liverpool, brushing aside the boos that greeted him and reminding fans that the reaction he endured on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has experienced". In recent weeks Littler has become all too familiar with negative chants from spectators, a trend that began to intensify after a heated exchange with Dutch number one Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. That confrontation set off a chain of events that has seen the Englishman repeatedly targeted by vocal opposition.
The controversy started when van Veen secured a narrow victory in a match that turned contentious after Littler appeared to celebrate a dart that landed close to the crowd. Van Veen accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the audience" and the tension spilled over onto the stage.
The Dutchman’s comments sparked a backlash, and when Littler returned to the arena for his three subsequent matches on Night 11 in Rotterdam – essentially van Veen’s home turf – he was met with a chorus of boos each time he stepped onto the stage. Despite the hostile environment in Rotterdam, Littler managed to press on and reach the final of that night’s event. The experience, however, left a lasting impression; he later described the Rotterdam crowd as louder and more intimidating than any he had faced since. "Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight.
This week was nothing compared to last week," he told Sky Sports, underscoring how the previous night’s atmosphere still lingered in his mind. When the competition moved to Liverpool for Night 12, the M&S Bank Arena did not offer a warmer welcome. The Manchester‑born player walked onto the stage to a chorus of disapproval, yet he quickly turned the situation to his advantage. In front of the skeptical audience, Littler delivered a flawless performance, defeating three of the sport’s biggest names – Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton – to secure his fifth consecutive nightly win.
His victory not only demonstrated his resilience but also tightened the Premier League standings. Littler now sits just three points behind Jonny Clayton at the top of the table, with four regular weeks still to play.
The narrow margin keeps the title race wide open and adds extra pressure for the remaining fixtures. Reflecting on the night’s events, Littler remained pragmatic. "It is what it is [crowd booing]. I've won and we move on to next week," he said.
He emphasized that the Liverpool crowd’s reaction was a minor inconvenience compared with the roar of the Rotterdam supporters. "I just have to forget about it. I was focused, I definitely wanted to win tonight and that's what I've done," he added. Littler also highlighted the mental strength required to thrive under such conditions.
"I even proved to people last week that I can win games under those circumstances and I've done it again. There is no anxiety there. I just expect the worst but it was not worse than Rotterdam. That is the worst I have experienced.
It is good to come through those games under those circumstances," he explained, underscoring his ability to compartmentalise external pressure and focus on his game. The rivalry with van Veen remains a lingering subplot. It has now been three weeks since the original spat that ignited the crowd’s disdain for Littler. Although the two have not spoken since the incident, Littler believes both players have moved past the drama.
"No, we have not spoken, but I'm not the type of person to go up and talk to him or something like that," he said. He suggested that van Veen might be waiting for him to make the first move, but Littler prefers to let their darts settle the score on the board rather than engage in off‑stage chatter. "Even in the practice room, people will talk to me first. I am not the type of person to be chatting away.
We can obviously settle it on the dartboard. In the back room it has just been normal. It has just been the same preparation-wise," Littler noted, indicating that his focus remains squarely on his preparation and performance.
He added, "I think he's forgotten about it. I forgot about it. If I need to talk to him, then I will.
I don't regret anything. Obviously, I had my opinion, he has got his opinion, so we are all entitled to it.
I think we have both moved on with our game on stage, but off stage, obviously, we've not spoken. But yeah, I'm sure we will." Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts schedule continues to build excitement. Luke Humphries will defend his title, and fans can tune in each Thursday until May on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW.
The competition promises more high‑stakes encounters, and Littler’s ability to thrive amid boos and controversy suggests he will remain a key contender for the championship. For those following the league, the current table shows a tight race with Littler, Clayton, and Humphries all within striking distance of the top spot. As the season enters its final stretch, the mental fortitude displayed by players like Littler could prove decisive.
Whether he will finally meet van Veen on stage again and settle their rivalry with a decisive win remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Littler has learned to thrive under pressure, turning jeers into motivation and proving that even the loudest boos cannot derail a focused champion.