Luke Littler openly acknowledges that he has not spoken to Dutch rival Gian van Veen since their heated exchange in Manchester, but he maintains that the incident is now behind them. The confrontation took place three weeks ago during a Premier League Darts match, when the two‑time world champion was accused of celebrating a missed match dart by his opponent. The tension culminated in a chilly handshake at the conclusion of the game, and both players have since reinforced their individual accounts of what transpired on social media. Littler clarified that he has not made any effort to reconcile with van Veen, yet he expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of meeting again on the oche.
A potential rematch could materialise if the pair both advance to the knockout stages in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham. "No, we haven't spoken. I'm not the sort of person who goes over and initiates a conversation," Littler told Sky Sports.
"Maybe he's waiting for me to make the first move, but that isn't my style – even in practice rooms, people usually approach me first." He added that he prefers to let the darts do the talking: "We can obviously settle it on the board, but backstage everything has been normal and the preparation routine hasn't changed. I think he's moved on, and I have as well. I left Manchester the day after, went on holiday and left the incident behind." The fallout from the Manchester episode has lingered, with some fans turning hostile toward Littler. He reported a particularly unfriendly reception in Rotterdam last week and another chilly atmosphere in Liverpool on Thursday.
Despite the boos, he silenced the crowd with a dominant performance, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton on his way to a night‑time victory. When asked whether he regretted his actions in Manchester, Littler was unequivocal: "No, I don't regret anything. Everyone has an opinion – I have mine, he has his – and we're both entitled to them.
On stage we both keep playing, off stage we simply haven't spoken. It's been a tough few weeks, but I had to push on. Winning tonight gives me confidence and reminds me why I love darts." Success on the Mersey’s banks carries special significance for Littler, who has never felt fully embraced by Liverpool supporters, partly because he openly supports Manchester United and has often teased the fortunes of the Anfield club online. Nevertheless, he noted that the animosity he faced in Liverpool paled in comparison to the reception he received in van Veen's home city of Rotterdam.
"If it gets any worse than that, something's definitely wrong," he said. "Rotterdam was far tougher than tonight. I proved I can win under those conditions last week – there was no anxiety, I just expected the worst, but it wasn't worse than Rotterdam.
That's the hardest I've experienced." Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts schedule continues with weekly Thursday fixtures leading up to the finals in May. Fans can follow the action on Sky Sports or stream live via NOW. While the rivalry between Littler and van Veen adds a compelling narrative, both players have indicated that they will let their performances on the board determine who ultimately comes out on top.
The upcoming stages in Aberdeen, Leeds and Birmingham will offer ample opportunity for a possible showdown, and the darts community will be watching closely to see whether any further words will be exchanged or whether the oche will finally settle the score.