Luke Littler has openly acknowledged that he has not spoken to Dutch rival Gian van Veen since their heated encounter in Manchester, but he maintains that the incident is now behind them. The two competitors found themselves in a tense on‑stage confrontation three weeks ago during a Premier League Darts match, when the back‑to‑back world champion was accused of gloating after his opponent missed a crucial match dart. The episode ended with a chilly handshake and a flurry of comments on social media, as both players have since stuck to their own versions of what happened. Littler made it clear that he has not yet reached out to van Veen to smooth things over.
"No, we haven't spoken. I'm not the sort of person who goes over and starts a conversation," he told Sky Sports. He added that he suspects the Dutchman might be waiting for him to make the first move, but that he prefers to let others initiate any dialogue.
"Even in the practice room, people usually come to me first. I'm not the kind of guy who just walks up and chats," he explained. Despite the lingering silence, Littler is already looking ahead to the possibility of a rematch.
If both players advance, they could meet again in one of the upcoming finals in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham. "We can obviously settle it on the darts board," Littler said, "but backstage everything has been normal and the preparation has stayed the same. I think he's forgotten about it, I've forgotten about it. I moved on the day after, went on holiday." The fallout from the Manchester episode has not been entirely benign for Littler.
He has faced a noticeable amount of hostility from fans since the incident. In Rotterdam last week, he encountered a hostile crowd, and a similar unwelcoming atmosphere greeted him in Liverpool on Thursday. Nevertheless, he managed to silence the doubters with a strong performance, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton on his way to a night‑long victory.
When asked whether he regretted his actions in Manchester, Littler was unequivocal: "No, I don't regret anything. Obviously I have my opinion, he's got his opinion, and we're both entitled to ours. I think we've both moved on with our game on stage, but off stage, we haven't spoken. It's been a tough couple of 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." Success on the Mersey, where Liverpool lies, carries special significance for Littler. He has never felt particularly welcomed in the city, largely because he is a vocal Manchester United supporter and has often teased the fortunes of Liverpool's own club on social media.
However, he notes that the reception in Liverpool was still milder than the hostility he experienced in van Veen's home base of Rotterdam. "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 forward, Littler remains focused on his darts career rather than the personal drama.
He stresses that the sport itself is the priority and that any lingering tension will be resolved on the board when the two meet again. The Premier League Darts season continues to build momentum, with matches scheduled every Thursday until the finals in May, all broadcast on Sky Sports and available for streaming via NOW. Fans can follow the latest developments, video highlights, analysis and podcasts such as "Love the Darts" to stay up‑to‑date with the league's narrative. While the rivalry between Littler and van Veen adds an extra layer of intrigue, both players have signaled that their focus remains on delivering top‑level performances and competing for the title.
Whether they clash again in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham, the darts community will be watching closely to see how the story unfolds on the oche.