Luke Littler openly acknowledges that, to date, he has not had a conversation with Dutch rival Gian van Veen following their heated exchange in Manchester, but he maintains that the incident is now behind them. The two competitors found themselves at odds 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 confrontation culminated in a chilly handshake at the conclusion of the evening, and both players have since reinforced their own versions of what transpired on social media. Littler clarified that he has not reached out to van Veen to smooth things over, yet he expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of a future showdown.
Should both athletes advance through the remaining stages, they could meet again in the finals slated for Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham. "No, we haven't spoken.
I'm not the type of person who goes up and initiates a conversation with him," Littler told Sky Sports. "Maybe he's waiting for me to make the first move, but that's not my style – even in practice rooms, people usually approach me first." He added that he prefers to let the darts board settle any lingering tension, noting that backstage preparations have remained routine and unchanged. "I think he's moved on, and I've moved on as well. I left Manchester the day after, went on holiday and left the incident behind," he said.
Despite his calm exterior, the fallout from the Manchester episode has continued to echo in the darts community. Fans in Rotterdam turned hostile toward Littler last week, and a similar chilly reception awaited him in Liverpool on Thursday.
Nevertheless, he managed to silence the doubters with a stellar performance, dispatching Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton in a single night to claim victory. When asked whether he regrets 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.
Onstage we both continue to play our game, but off‑stage we haven't spoken. It has been a tough couple of weeks, but I just had to get on with it. Winning tonight gives me confidence and reminds me why I love darts." Littler's relationship with certain crowds is complicated.
As a vocal Manchester United supporter, he has often teased Liverpool’s fortunes on social media, which has not endeared him to the Anfield faithful. He admitted that the reception in Liverpool, while unfriendly, was still milder than the atmosphere he encountered in van Veen's home city of Rotterdam. "Rotterdam was far worse than tonight.
I even proved last week that I can win under those conditions. There was no anxiety – I expected the worst, but it wasn't worse than Rotterdam. That's the toughest environment I've faced," he reflected. Looking ahead, Littler remains focused on his upcoming matches.
He believes that the best way to resolve any lingering dispute is simply to let the darts speak for themselves. "We can obviously settle it on the darts board," he said, emphasizing that his preparation and mindset remain unchanged regardless of past drama.
The Premier League Darts schedule continues each Thursday, leading up to the finals in May, and fans can follow the action on Sky Sports or stream it via NOW. In summary, while Littler and van Veen have yet to exchange words since their Manchester showdown, both players appear determined to let their performances dictate the narrative. Littler's recent triumphs, despite hostile crowds, suggest that he can thrive under pressure and that the unresolved tension may finally be settled when the two meet again on the oche. The upcoming weeks will reveal whether the frosty handshake remains a footnote or becomes the catalyst for a decisive on‑stage battle between the rising English star and the Dutch champion.