Luke Littler showed little concern for the boos he endured in Liverpool after clinching Night 12 of the Premier League, insisting that the hostile response he faced on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has experienced". In recent weeks Littler has become accustomed to a chorus of jeers, the most severe of which stemmed from an on‑stage clash with Dutch No. 1 Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. Van Veen secured a contentious victory after Littler reacted angrily when his opponent turned toward him while throwing match darts.
The Dutchman accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd," a comment that sparked a wave of boos each time Littler stepped onto the stage for his three matches on the road to the Night 11 final in Rotterdam, where the crowd was firmly in Van Veen’s hometown. Despite the chilly reception, Littler remained undeterred when he arrived in Liverpool for his next fixture at the M&S Bank Arena. He silenced the dissenting voices by defeating three of the sport’s heavyweights—Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Jonny Clayton—in succession, earning his fifth consecutive nightly win. The victory placed him just three points behind Clayton at the top of the league, with four regular weeks still to play.
Reflecting on his Rotterdam ordeal, Littler said the boos in Liverpool were merely background noise. "It is what it is," he told Sky Sports. "I've won, and we move on to next week. Rotterdam was far louder than this night.
This week was nothing compared to last week. I just had to forget about it, stay focused, and I knew I wanted to win. And that’s exactly what I did." He added that the experience in Rotterdam had actually proven his ability to thrive under pressure. "I showed people 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 just expect the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam. That was the toughest crowd I’ve faced, and coming through under those conditions feels great." It has now been three weeks since the original spat between Littler and Van Veen, a confrontation that ignited a lingering resentment from sections of the audience each week. Although the two have not spoken since the incident, Littler believes both men have moved past the drama. He remains open to a future showdown on the oche, saying, "We can obviously settle it on the dartboard.
In the practice room, people talk to me first; I’m not the type to chase a conversation. Maybe he’s waiting for me to speak, but I’m not the kind of person to initiate that. If we need to talk, we will.
I don’t regret anything. We each have our opinions, and we’re entitled to them. On stage we focus on the game; off stage we haven’t spoken yet, but I’m sure we will eventually." Looking ahead, Littler is focused on the remaining fixtures and the chance to close the gap at the top of the table. He knows that consistency will be key, especially as the league heads into its final stretch.
The Premier League Darts schedule continues to deliver high‑stakes drama each Thursday until May, with Sky Sports providing live coverage and NOW offering streaming options for fans worldwide. For those wanting to keep up with the latest developments, Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel delivers real‑time news, videos, analysis, and more. Meanwhile, the Love the Darts podcast offers in‑depth discussions and interviews with the sport’s biggest names.
As the season progresses, the question on everyone’s mind is who will ultimately claim the Premier League title. Defending champion Luke Humphries will be looking to retain his crown, while the likes of Littler, Van Gerwen, and Clayton are all in contention. The next few weeks promise more thrilling darts, intense rivalries, and perhaps another chance for Littler and Van Veen to settle their differences on the board.
In summary, despite the vocal disapproval he faced in Liverpool, Littler’s composure and performance underscore his resilience. He has turned boos into motivation, proved his mettle against elite opposition, and remains a formidable contender as the Premier League darts season reaches its climax.