Luke Littler has confirmed that he has not spoken to Dutch darts star Gian van Veen since their heated exchange in Manchester, but he maintains that the incident is now behind them. The two competitors were involved in a tense on‑stage confrontation during a Premier League Darts match three weeks ago, when Littler, a back‑to‑back world champion, was accused of celebrating a missed match dart by van Veen. The disagreement culminated in a chilly handshake at the conclusion of the evening and a flurry of posts on social media, with each player subsequently defending his own version of events.
Littler made it clear that he has not reached out to the Dutchman to smooth things over. "No, we haven't spoken. I'm not the sort of person who goes up and tries to talk to him," he said.
"Maybe he's waiting for me to make the first move, but that's not how I operate – even in the practice room, people usually come to me first. I'm not the type who chats away after a match." Despite the silence, Littler expressed optimism about a possible rematch, noting that the two could meet again if they both advance to the later stages of the league in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham. "We can obviously settle it on the darts board, but backstage things have been normal and the preparation routine hasn't changed," he explained. "I think he's moved on, and I've moved on as well – I went on holiday the day after and left it behind." The fallout from the Manchester incident has lingered for Littler.
He reported hostile receptions in Rotterdam last week and again in Liverpool on Thursday, although he managed to silence the dissenting crowd with a strong performance that saw him defeat Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton in a single night. The negative reactions have not deterred him, however.
When asked if he regretted his actions, Littler answered unequivocally: "No, I don't regret anything. Everyone has an opinion, and we’re both entitled to ours. On stage we both keep playing, off stage we haven't spoken, but the game goes on." Littler emphasized that the past few weeks have been challenging, but he has focused on his craft. "I just have to get on with it.
Winning tonight gives me confidence," he said, adding that success on the Mersey banks would mean more to him than many of his previous victories. His relationship with Liverpool fans has always been strained because he openly supports Manchester United and frequently teases the fortunes of the Anfield club on social platforms.
Nevertheless, he claimed the reception in Liverpool was far less severe than the hostile atmosphere he endured in van Veen's home city of Rotterdam. "Rotterdam was far worse than tonight. I even proved last week that I can win games under those circumstances," Littler noted. "There was no anxiety – I just expected the worst, but it wasn't any worse than Rotterdam.
That's the toughest experience I've had." Looking ahead, Littler is focused on the remainder of the Premier League season. He acknowledges that the dispute with van Veen will likely be revisited if the two meet in a later round, but he remains confident that his performance on the oche will speak for itself. "Just playing darts is what I do now, and winning each night builds my belief," he said. The Premier League Darts continues to deliver drama both on and off the board, with the competition set to culminate in a finals weekend in May.
Fans can follow the action each Thursday on Sky Sports or stream the matches via NOW. The narrative surrounding Littler and van Veen adds an extra layer of intrigue, reminding viewers that professional darts is as much about personality and rivalry as it is about precision and skill.