Luke Littler openly acknowledges that he has not spoken to Dutch rival Gian van Veen since their heated encounter in Manchester, but he maintains that the issue is effectively behind them. The two competitors found themselves at odds during a Premier League darts match three weeks ago when the reigning back‑to‑back world champion was accused of celebrating a missed match dart by his opponent. The confrontation culminated in a chilly handshake after the game and a flurry of posts on social media, with each player sticking firmly to his own version of events.
Littler confirms that he has not made any effort to reconcile with van Veen, yet he remains eager for a possible rematch. Both men could potentially meet again if they advance through the remaining stages of the competition, which include upcoming finals in Aberdeen, Leeds and Birmingham.
"No, we haven’t spoken," Littler told Sky Sports. "I’m not the sort of person who goes up to someone and tries to start a conversation. Maybe he’s waiting for me, but that’s not how I operate – even in the practice room, people usually approach me first." He added that he prefers to let the darts board settle any lingering tension, noting that backstage preparations have remained normal.
"I think he’s forgotten about it, I’ve forgotten about it. I moved on the next day, went on holiday," he said, emphasizing his focus on the sport rather than the drama.
The fallout from the Manchester incident has followed Littler around the circuit. He reported a hostile reception in Rotterdam last week and another chilly atmosphere in Liverpool on Thursday.
Despite the boos, he managed to quiet the crowd with a dominant performance, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton on his way to a night‑time victory. When asked whether he regrets his actions in Manchester, Littler was unequivocal: "No, I don’t regret anything. Obviously I have my opinion, he has his opinion, and we’re both entitled to them.
I think we’ve both moved on 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. Playing darts is what I do, and winning tonight gives me confidence." Success on the Mersey’s banks would mean a great deal to Littler, especially given his less‑than‑warm welcome in Liverpool. As a vocal Manchester United supporter, he has often teased the fortunes of the Anfield club on social media, which has not endeared him to the local crowd.
Nevertheless, he insists that the reception in Liverpool was far milder than what he experienced in van Veen’s home city of Rotterdam. "If it gets worse than that, then something’s wrong," Littler remarked.
"Rotterdam was far worse than tonight. I even proved last week that I can win under those conditions.
There was no anxiety – I just expected the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam. That was the toughest environment I’ve faced." Looking ahead, the Premier League Darts schedule will continue with weekly Thursday fixtures culminating in the finals in May. Fans can follow the action on Sky Sports or stream the matches via NOW. While the personal feud between Littler and van Veen may still be unresolved off the stage, both players appear determined to let their performances speak for themselves, hoping that the next encounter – should it occur – will be decided solely by the scores on the board.