Luke Littler has built a reputation for thriving on the hostility of darts spectators, but according to PDC chief executive Matt Porter, the young star might soon have to adopt a different strategy. Porter made the comments during a Sky Sports interview on Wednesday, where he was asked whether he was surprised by the wave of booing Littler has endured in multiple venues and countries throughout the current season. The 19‑year‑old, who clinched the world title twice in a row in 2025 and 2026, first burst onto the international stage as a 16‑year‑old prodigy at the 2023 World Darts Championship.
He reached the final that December, ultimately falling to Luke Humphries on 3 January 2024, before returning to lift the crown in the two subsequent years. At that early stage, Littler was universally adored, and his popularity seemed to endure for a considerable period. However, his relationship with the crowd began to shift after a series of high‑profile incidents.
During the most recent World Championship, Littler reacted angrily to the audience’s vocal support for Rob Cross in the quarter‑finals. Later, on 2 April, he engaged in a heated on‑stage exchange with Dutch competitor Gian van Veen during a Premier League match in Manchester. These episodes appear to have altered the way fans perceive him. Littler himself described the atmosphere in Rotterdam on Night 11 of the Premier League as "the worst I've experienced," and he was also booed during a recent event in Liverpool.
When Sky Sports probed Porter about whether the booing caught him off guard, the executive responded, "Yes and no. Luke has always enjoyed interacting with the crowd and I don't think he minds it too much to a level." Porter explained that Littler’s habit of provoking the audience is part of his persona: "Obviously if you're going to wind the crowd up a little bit, as he has done in the past, then you have to expect them to react to that.
And often when Luke's done that, he's had a smile on his face and it's been something he's thrived on." He added that darts crowds tend to develop patterns, copying reactions from previous weeks. "So once you get on a little bit of a run of having a certain reaction from the crowd, you need to do something to reverse that," Porter said.
"If Luke's that bothered about it – I don't think he necessarily is hugely – then he'll look to change it. But if he can shrug it off and treat it like water off a duck's back, then he'll be alright with it." Porter drew a parallel with former world champion Gerwyn Price, noting how Price transformed public perception after a period of negative fan reaction. "We saw it with Gerwyn Price a few years ago.
He's completely changed around the perception that he has from the crowds now and there's been others too," he observed. The PDC chief concluded that the ultimate decision lies with Littler: "I think really it's going to be up to Luke, whether he feels it's something he finds quite funny and whether he can deal with it or if it's something that he wants to change, then you might see a different approach." Beyond the incidents in Rotterdam and Liverpool, Littler has also faced confrontations with supporters in Dublin, Brighton, Nottingham and Berlin this season. Some observers suggest that, despite his youth, his dominance in a sport that has surged in popularity inevitably brings volatile crowd interactions. Porter agreed, noting that similar dynamics occur across all sports where athletes become targets for both opponents and spectators.
"I mean you see it in every sport, don't you? Where people are there to be shot at and Luke's obviously got a target on his back, not only from the other players, but from people who watch the sport," Porter said. "These things always go in waves, don't they? Like I say, it'll be one thing today and then something else will come along and take that over in the future." Turning to the Premier League, Porter reflected on Littler’s performance to date: "Luke's perhaps not had the Premier League campaign that he would have wanted.
He's got himself into good positions a lot of the time, but not always been able to convert that into wins." He contrasted Littler’s season with that of Michael van Gerwen, who has been "quite steady" and consistently accumulated points. "If you keep the scoreboard ticking over with two points every week or picking up three and five occasionally, and just making sure you always get that first win under your belt, then you leave yourself in a good place," Porter explained. "The pressure is a little bit more on Luke. He's going to probably want to win a night just to really get himself back into contention for the top four." Nevertheless, Porter emphasized that Littler’s talent cannot be discounted.
"You wouldn't rule that out, obviously, with the talent that he's got," he said. The 2026 Premier League will continue at the P&J Live in Aberdeen, featuring a pivotal clash between defending champion Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen as they vie for a top‑four playoff spot. League leader Jonny Clayton will renew his rivalry with Gian van Veen, while Josh Rock and Littler will open the evening’s action.
Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price will also meet in a semi‑final qualifier. Points are awarded each night—five for the winner, three for the runner‑up, and two for each semi‑finalist—to determine the league table, with the top four advancing to the Finals Night at The O2 in London on 28 May.