Luke Littler has openly acknowledged that he has not spoken to Dutch rival Gian van Veen since their heated encounter in Manchester, yet he maintains that the episode has been put behind them. The two competitors were involved in a tense on‑stage argument during a Premier League Darts match three weeks ago, when the reigning back‑to‑back world champion was accused of celebrating a missed match dart by his opponent.
The incident was captured on camera, and the aftermath played out on social media, with both players firmly sticking to their own narratives. Littler made it clear that he has not reached out to van Veen to smooth things over.
"No, we haven't spoken. I'm not the type of person who goes up and initiates a conversation with him or anything like that," he told Sky Sports. He added that perhaps van Veen is waiting for him to make the first move, but Littler prefers to let others approach him first, even in practice settings. "I'm not the kind of guy who chats away," he said.
Despite the lingering silence, Littler expressed optimism about the prospect of a future rematch. The two could potentially meet again if they both advance to the finals, which are slated to take place in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham later in the season.
"We can obviously settle it on the darts board," Littler noted, emphasizing that behind the scenes his preparation has remained routine and unchanged. "I think he's forgotten about it. I've forgotten about it. I moved on the day after, went on holiday." The fallout from the Manchester dispute has not been limited to the players' private feelings; fans have also weighed in heavily.
Littler reported a hostile reception in Rotterdam last week, and he faced a similarly unfriendly atmosphere in Liverpool on Thursday. Nevertheless, he managed to quiet the dissenting crowd with a stellar performance, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton on his way to a night‑long victory. 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, so we're all entitled to it.
I think we've both moved on with our game on stage, but off stage, obviously we've not spoken. It has been a tough couple 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." Littler's relationship with certain venues has been complicated. He admits that playing in Liverpool is never particularly warm, largely because he is an outspoken Manchester United supporter and frequently teases the fortunes of the Anfield club on social media. However, he says the animosity he encountered in Liverpool pales in comparison to the reception he received in van Veen's home city of Rotterdam.
"If it gets worse than that, then something's wrong," Littler remarked. "Rotterdam was far worse than tonight.
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, the Premier League Darts schedule continues to build momentum as the competition moves toward its May finals. Fans can follow each Thursday night action on Sky Sports or stream the matches via the NOW platform.
The league's table is tightening, and the question on everyone's mind is which player will ultimately claim the title. Littler, still riding the confidence from his recent win, remains focused on his own game rather than the drama surrounding the Manchester incident.
He believes that performance on the oche speaks louder than any off‑stage disagreement, and he intends to let his darts do the talking as the season progresses. In summary, while Luke Littler and Gian van Veen have yet to reconcile their differences verbally, both athletes appear determined to let their future performances settle any lingering doubts. The next encounter, should it occur in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham, will likely serve as the ultimate test of who can move beyond the past and dominate the Premier League Darts stage.