Luke Littler showed little concern for the boos he endured in Liverpool as he secured his twelfth night victory in the Premier League, describing the hostile reaction he faced on the previous night in Rotterdam as "the worst he has ever experienced". Over recent weeks, Littler has become increasingly accustomed to negative chants from various audiences, with the most intense episode stemming from a heated exchange with Dutch number one Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. The controversy began when van Veen clinched a tightly contested match, prompting Littler to react angrily after his opponent turned toward him while throwing his finishing darts. Van Veen accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd", a comment that sparked a flurry of boos whenever Littler took the stage for the three matches that led up to the Night 11 final in Rotterdam, a venue dominated by van Veen's home supporters.
Despite the chilly reception, Littler remained unfazed when he arrived in Liverpool for the M&S Bank Arena showdown. In front of a skeptical audience, he delivered a flawless performance, dispatching Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton in succession to claim his fifth consecutive nightly win.
The victory placed him just three points behind Clayton at the top of the league table, with four regular weeks still to play. Reflecting on his Rotterdam ordeal, Littler made it clear that nothing could shake his concentration. "It is what it is," he told Sky Sports, referring to the booing. "I've won, and we move on to next week.
Rotterdam was far louder than Liverpool tonight. This week was nothing compared to last week.
I just had to forget about it, stay focused and go for the win – and I did just that." He added that the experience actually reinforced his belief that he can thrive under pressure. "I proved last week that I can win games in that kind of atmosphere, and I've done it again. There’s no anxiety for me; I expect the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam.
That was the worst I have experienced, and it feels good to come through those games despite the hostility." It has now been three weeks since the original spat between Littler and van Veen, a disagreement that has fueled crowd animosity toward Littler each week. Although the two have not spoken since the incident, Littler believes both players have moved on professionally, even if the personal tension remains unresolved. He hinted that a future on‑stage clash could finally settle the matter.
"No, we have not spoken, but I’m not the type of person to go up and talk to him," Littler said. "Maybe he’s waiting for me to make the first move, but that’s not my style. In the practice room people approach me first; I don’t chase conversations.
We can settle it on the dartboard. Off‑stage it’s been normal, just the same preparation as always. I think he’s forgotten about it, I’ve forgotten about it.
If I need to talk, I will. I don’t regret anything – we both have our opinions and we’re entitled to them.
We’ve both moved on with our game on stage, even if we haven’t spoken off stage. I’m sure we will eventually." Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts race remains wide open. Defending champion Luke Humphries will be looking to retain his title, while Littler’s recent form suggests he could be a serious contender. Fans can follow the weekly Thursday fixtures through May on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW, alongside the latest darts videos, highlights, and the "Love the Darts" podcast.
The drama between Littler and van Veen adds an extra narrative layer to an already compelling season, promising that each encounter on the oche could deliver both high‑stakes competition and personal redemption.