Luke Littler showed he can ignore hostile crowds when he clinched his twelfth night victory in the Premier League, brushing off the jeers he endured in Liverpool and recalling that the reaction he faced on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has ever experienced." In recent weeks Littler has become all too familiar with the sound of boos echoing from the stands, a trend that began in earnest after a heated exchange with Dutch No.1 Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. Van Veen had secured a contentious win after Littler reacted angrily when his opponent turned toward him while throwing match darts. The Dutchman accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd," a comment that ignited a feud between the two competitors.
The fallout was immediate. As Littler stepped onto the stage for each of his three matches on his way to the Rotterdam final on Night 11, he was met with a chorus of boos from Van Veen's home supporters. The atmosphere was electric, but not in a supportive way – the crowd’s disapproval was palpable, turning what should have been a routine walk‑on into a test of mental resilience.
Despite the hostile reception, Littler kept his focus on the darts. He later told Sky Sports, "It is what it is.
I’ve won, and we move on to next week." He added that the Rotterdam crowd was far louder than the one he faced in Liverpool, emphasizing that the latter night felt relatively tame in comparison. "I just have to forget about it," he said. "I was focused, I definitely wanted to win tonight and that’s exactly what I did." His performance in Liverpool proved that his composure was intact. At the M&S Bank Arena, the Manchester native dispatched three of the sport’s biggest names—Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Jonny Clayton—in succession, securing his fifth consecutive nightly win.
The victory moved him to within three points of the league leader, Jonny Clayton, with four regular weeks still to play. Littler’s ability to thrive under pressure was on full display.
After the match, he reflected on his earlier encounter in Rotterdam, noting, "I proved 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, and it feels good to come through those games under those conditions." The tension between Littler and Van Veen has not faded. It has been three weeks since their original spat, a dispute that has coloured the perception of Littler among certain sections of the audience each week. While the two have not spoken directly, Littler believes both players have moved past the incident on the professional front.
"We haven’t spoken, but I’m not the type of person to go up and talk to him," he explained. "Maybe he’s waiting for me to talk to him, but that’s not my style. Even in the practice room, people come to me first; I’m not the chatty type." When asked how the rivalry might be settled, Littler was unequivocal: "We can obviously settle it on the dartboard." He added that behind the scenes, preparation remains routine and unchanged.
"In the back room it’s just normal. It’s the same preparation-wise. I think he’s forgotten about it, I’ve forgotten about it.
If I need to talk to him, I will. I don’t regret anything.
We each have our opinions, and we’re both entitled to them. On stage we’ve moved on; off stage we haven’t spoken, but I’m sure we will at some point." Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts race remains wide open. Defending champion Luke Humphries will be looking to retain his title, while the battle for the top spot intensifies with each night’s results. Fans can follow the action every Thursday until May on Sky Sports, with live streaming available via NOW.
The league’s schedule and current table are regularly updated online, and darts enthusiasts can also catch highlights, analysis, and the "Love the Darts" podcast for deeper insight into the sport’s storylines. In summary, Luke Littler’s recent triumph in Liverpool demonstrates his mental fortitude and his capacity to perform under duress, even when faced with vocal opposition.
His ongoing rivalry with Gian van Veen adds an extra layer of intrigue to the Premier League, promising a compelling showdown should the two meet again on the oche. The season’s narrative continues to evolve, and every night brings the potential for new drama, surprise upsets, and moments of brilliance that keep darts fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.