Luke Littler has openly acknowledged that, to date, he has not had a conversation with Dutch darts star Gian van Veen following their heated exchange in Manchester. Despite the tension that erupted three weeks ago during a Premier League darts match, Littler insists the incident is now behind them and that he is already looking ahead to a possible rematch should the two meet again in the later stages of the competition. The confrontation took place during a high‑profile Premier League fixture, where the back‑to‑back world champion van Veen was accused by Littler of celebrating a missed match dart by his opponent. The accusation sparked an on‑stage spat that was captured on camera and quickly filtered through social media, where both players subsequently posted their own accounts of what had transpired.
The atmosphere at the end of the match was icy; a handshake was exchanged, but it was clear that the goodwill between the two competitors had been strained. When asked about the current state of their relationship, Littler was unequivocal: "No, we haven't spoken.
I'm not the type of person to go up and talk to him or something like that." He added that he suspects van Veen might be waiting for him to make the first move, but that he prefers to let others initiate conversation. "Even in the practice room, people will talk to me first," Littler said, emphasizing his passive approach to resolving personal disagreements. Littler also noted that the rivalry can be settled on the darts board, where performance is the only true arbiter. "Backstage it's been normal, the preparation hasn't changed at all," he explained.
"I think he's forgotten about it, I've forgotten about it. I moved on the day after, went on holiday." This pragmatic outlook suggests that, for Littler, the best way to put the episode to rest is by focusing on his game and letting his results speak for themselves.
The fallout from the Manchester episode has not been limited to the two players. Littler has faced a wave of hostility from sections of the darts crowd. In Rotterdam, where van Veen enjoys a home‑advantage, Littler reported a hostile reception last week. The following weekend in Liverpool, he encountered a similarly unwelcoming atmosphere, though he managed to quiet the dissenters with a dominant performance that saw him defeat Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton en route to a night‑time victory.
Despite the negative reactions, Littler maintains that he has no regrets about his conduct in Manchester. "No, I don't regret anything," he affirmed.
"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." His statements underline a belief that personal feelings should not interfere with professional performance. Littler's connection to the city of Liverpool is complicated by his allegiance to Manchester United, a rivalry that often spills onto social media. He admits that the reception in Liverpool was chilly, but he insists it was nothing compared to the animosity he experienced in Rotterdam, van Veen's hometown. "If it gets worse than that, then something's wrong," he 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 two players could potentially meet again if they both advance to the later stages of the Premier League Darts, with possible match‑ups in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham.
Littler says he is eager for that showdown, viewing it as an opportunity to settle any lingering tension through pure competition rather than conversation. The Premier League Darts schedule continues to run weekly, culminating in a finals weekend in May.
Fans can follow the drama and watch each Thursday night action on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available via NOW. The ongoing narrative surrounding Littler and van Veen adds an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament, reminding viewers that darts, like any sport, is as much about personalities and rivalries as it is about precision and skill. In summary, while Luke Littler has not yet reached out to Gian van Veen since their Manchester bust‑up, he remains focused on his game, confident in his ability to perform under pressure, and ready for any future encounter on the oche. The episode serves as a reminder that professional athletes often must navigate both on‑stage competition and off‑stage interpersonal dynamics, and that the ultimate resolution may simply be decided by who can hit the highest scores when it matters most.