Luke Littler showed he can tune out hostile crowds when he clinched Night 12 of the Premier League in Liverpool, insisting that the reaction he endured on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has ever faced". Over recent weeks Littler has become all too familiar with boos and jeers from various audiences, a trend that began in earnest after a heated exchange with Dutch No.1 Gian van Veen on Night Nine in Manchester. The controversy started when van Veen secured a tightly contested match and Littler reacted angrily after his opponent turned toward him while throwing his finishing darts.

Van Veen accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd". The incident sparked a wave of negativity that followed Littler into Rotterdam, where he was met with sustained booing from van Veen's home supporters during each of his three matches on Night 11. The vocal opposition made the arena feel more like a battlefield than a sporting venue. Despite the chilly reception in Liverpool, Littler refused to let the atmosphere affect his performance.

In front of a less-than-warm crowd at the M&S Bank Arena, he delivered a flawless series of victories, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton to secure his fifth consecutive nightly win. The triumph placed him just three points behind Clayton at the top of the league table, with four regular weeks still to play. When asked by Sky Sports about the boos, Littler shrugged them off with a pragmatic attitude: "It is what it is. I've won and we move on to next week." He contrasted the Liverpool crowd with the louder, more hostile environment he faced in Rotterdam, adding, "Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight.

This week was nothing compared to last week. I just had to forget about it and stay focused on winning, which I did." Littler also highlighted his mental resilience, noting that he had already proven he could win under pressure the previous week. "I even proved to people last week that I can win games under those circumstances and I've done it again. There is no anxiety there.

I just expect the worst but it was not worse than Rotterdam. That was the worst I have experienced.

It feels good to come through those games under those circumstances," he explained. It has now been three weeks since the initial spat between Littler and van Veen, a clash that ignited a lingering dislike for Littler among certain sections of the crowd. While the two have not spoken since the incident, Littler believes both players have moved on professionally.

He remains open to settling the rivalry on the dartboard when they eventually meet again on stage. "No, we have not spoken, but I'm not the type of person to go up and talk to him," Littler said. "Maybe he is waiting for me to talk to him, but I'm not the type of person. Even in the practice room, people will talk to me first.

I am not the type of person to be chatting away. We can obviously settle it on the dartboard.

In the back room it has just been normal. It has just been the same preparation-wise.

I think he's forgotten about it. I forgot about it. If I need to talk to him, then I will.

I don't regret anything. Obviously, I had my opinion, he has got his opinion, so we are all entitled to it.

I think we have both moved on with our game on stage, but off stage, obviously, we've not spoken. But yeah, I'm sure we will." Littler's composure under duress underscores a broader theme in professional darts: the ability to compartmentalise external noise and maintain focus on precision. The sport, while often celebrated for its camaraderie and fan interaction, can turn hostile when personalities clash or when a player’s celebratory gestures are perceived as disrespectful.

Littler’s experience illustrates how modern darts athletes must develop a thick skin, treating boos as background static rather than a deterrent. Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts race remains tight. Luke Humphries will defend his title, and fans can watch the weekly Thursday showdowns until May on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW.

The league’s schedule and table are updated regularly, and highlights continue to circulate across darts podcasts and video platforms. For those following the narrative, Littler’s journey—from the heated Rotterdam showdown to his calm victory in Liverpool—adds another compelling chapter to a season already rich with drama, skill, and the ever-present question of who will ultimately lift the Premier League trophy.