Luke Littler openly acknowledges that he has not had a conversation with Dutch rival Gian van Veen since the heated incident that unfolded in Manchester three weeks ago, but he insists the situation has been put to rest on the oche. The two competitors found themselves at odds during a Premier League Darts match when the reigning back‑to‑back world champion was accused of celebrating a missed match dart by his opponent. The episode sparked a tense handshake at the conclusion of the game and ignited a flurry of comments on social media, with each player subsequently defending his own perspective. Littler made it clear that he has not yet reached out to van Veen to smooth things over.
"No, we haven’t spoken. I’m not the sort of person who goes up to someone and starts a conversation," he told Sky Sports. He added that if van Veen is waiting for him to make the first move, he is unlikely to do so, even in the practice arena where he says "people will talk to me first." The Englishman described himself as someone who does not "chat away" and prefers to let his darts do the talking. Despite the off‑stage tension, Littler emphasized that the dispute can be settled on the board.
"We can obviously settle it on the darts board, but backstage it’s been normal and the preparation has stayed the same," he explained. He believes both competitors have moved on mentally: "I think he’s forgotten about it. I’ve forgotten about it. I moved on the day after, went on holiday." This pragmatic attitude reflects his focus on the upcoming fixtures, as the pair could potentially meet again if they both advance to the finals in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham.
The fallout from the Manchester episode has followed Littler around the circuit. In Rotterdam last week, he encountered a hostile crowd, and a similar chilly reception awaited him in Liverpool on Thursday.
Nevertheless, the Englishman silenced the dissenting fans with a dominant performance, dispatching Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton on his way to a night‑time triumph. He noted that the boos did not deter him; instead, the victory boosted his confidence and reminded him why he loves the sport.
When asked whether he regretted his actions in Manchester, Littler was unequivocal: "No, I don’t regret anything. Obviously I have my opinion, he’s got his opinion, and we’re both entitled to it. I think we’ve both moved on with our game on stage, but off stage, obviously we haven’t spoken.
It’s been a tough couple of weeks, but I just had to get on with it. Just playing darts, that’s what I’ve done now, winning this night gives me confidence." His comments underline a clear separation between personal feelings and professional performance. The reception in Liverpool was particularly sour for Littler, who is an outspoken Manchester United supporter and has frequently poked fun at Liverpool’s fortunes on social media. He admitted that the boos in the city were uncomfortable, but he placed them in perspective by comparing them to the atmosphere he faced in van Veen’s home turf of Rotterdam.
"If it gets worse than that, then something’s wrong," he said, adding that Rotterdam proved far more challenging. "I even proved to people last week that I can win games under those circumstances.
There was no anxiety, I just expected the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam. That’s the worst I’ve experienced." Looking ahead, Littler remains focused on the Premier League Darts schedule, which will continue every Thursday until the finals in May. He is eager to test his mettle against the best and hopes to secure more victories that will reinforce his standing in the league. While the personal rivalry with van Veen adds an extra narrative thread, Littler insists that the only thing that truly matters is how they perform when the lights are on and the darts are in flight.
In summary, Luke Littler has chosen to keep his distance from Gian van Veen off the stage, but he is more than ready to let their next encounter be decided by skill rather than words. The Englishman’s recent wins, despite hostile crowds, demonstrate his resilience and his belief that the best response to any controversy is a strong performance on the oche. Fans can continue to follow the drama each Thursday on Sky Sports and stream the action through NOW, as the Premier League Darts race builds toward its climactic finals in May.