Luke Littler paid no mind to the jeering he endured in Liverpool as he secured his twelfth night victory in the Premier League, insisting that the hostile reaction he faced on Night 11 in Rotterdam remains the "worst he has 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 on Night Nine in Manchester. Van Veen clinched a contentious match after Littler erupted in anger when his opponent turned toward him while delivering his match darts. The Dutchman accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd", a comment that sparked a lingering animosity between the two. That tension spilled over into Rotterdam, where Littler was met with a chorus of boos each time he stepped onto the stage for his three matches on Night 11, performed in front of Van Veen’s home supporters.
The atmosphere was electric, but not in a supportive way – the crowd’s disapproval was palpable and added an extra layer of pressure to an already intense evening. Despite the chilly reception, Littler travelled to Liverpool for Night 12 and again found the audience less than welcoming. Nevertheless, he turned the hostile environment into fuel for his performance, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton in succession to claim his fifth straight nightly win at the M&S Bank Arena. The victory moved him to within three points of the league leader, Jonny Clayton, with only four regular weeks left in the competition.
When asked by Sky Sports about the boos, Littler was unflappable. "It is what it is," he said, shrugging off the negativity. "I’ve won, and we move on to next week.
Rotterdam was far louder than tonight; this week was nothing compared to last week. I just had to forget about it, stay focused, and I knew I wanted to win – and I did." He added that the Rotterdam crowd had tested him more than any other audience. "I proved last week that I can win under those circumstances, and I’ve done it again. There’s no anxiety – I expect the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam.
That was the worst I have experienced, and it feels good to come through those games despite the hostility." It has now been three weeks since the initial spat between Littler and Van Veen, an incident that has left a lingering sour taste for many spectators each week. While the two have not spoken since the confrontation, Littler believes both players have moved on professionally. "We haven’t spoken, but I’m not the type to go up and talk to him," he explained. "Maybe he’s waiting for me, but I’m not that kind of person.
In the practice room people approach me first; I’m not the one who goes around chatting. We can settle it on the dartboard when we meet again on stage.
Off‑stage it’s been normal – same preparation, same focus. I think he’s forgotten about it, and I’ve forgotten too.
If I need to talk, I will. I don’t regret anything. We both have our opinions and we’re entitled to them.
On stage we’ve moved on; off stage we haven’t spoken, but I’m sure we will eventually." Looking ahead, Littler is keen to put the dispute behind him and concentrate on the remaining fixtures. He knows that the Premier League darts schedule is tight, with each Thursday bringing a new challenge until the final in May. The league’s leader board remains tight, and with only four weeks left, every point matters.
Fans can continue to follow the drama and high‑quality darts action on Sky Sports, stream the Premier League Darts with NOW, or catch the latest highlights and interviews on the Love the Darts podcast. While the booing may never fully disappear, Littler’s calm demeanor and ability to thrive under pressure suggest he will remain a formidable contender as the season draws to its climax.