Luke Littler made light of the boos he endured in Liverpool after clinching Night 12 of the Premier League, insisting that the hostile atmosphere he faced on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has ever experienced." Littler has grown accustomed to negative reactions from spectators of late, with the most intense episode stemming from his clash with Dutch No. 1 Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. The controversy began when van Veen secured a contentious victory, prompting Littler to react angrily after his opponent turned toward him while throwing his match darts. Van Veen accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd," a comment that sparked a heated exchange between the two.
The incident set the stage for a series of boos directed at Littler as he walked onto the stage for each of his three matches on his way to the final on Night 11 in Rotterdam, performed in front of van Veen's home supporters. Despite the chilly reception, Littler remained unfazed when he arrived in Liverpool for the next round. In front of a less than enthusiastic audience at the M&S Bank Arena, he delivered a masterclass performance, defeating Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton to claim his fifth consecutive nightly win. The victory moved him to within three points of the league leader, Jonny Clayton, with four regular weeks still to play.
Littler reflected on his Rotterdam experience, saying nothing could shake his focus. "It is what it is," he told Sky Sports, referring to the crowd’s booing.
"I’ve won, and we move on to next week. Rotterdam was far louder than Liverpool tonight.
This week was nothing compared to last week. I just had to forget about it, stay focused, and I wanted to win – and I did." He added that the Rotterdam crowd had tested his mental toughness. "I even proved last week that I can win games under those circumstances, and I’ve done it again.
There’s no anxiety – I just expect the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam. That was the worst I’ve experienced, and it feels good to come through those games under such pressure." Three weeks have now passed since the original spat between Littler and van Veen, which ignited a lingering resentment from the crowds each week. Littler admitted that the two have not spoken since the incident, but he believes both have moved on.
"No, we have not spoken, but I’m not the type of person to go up and talk to him," he said. "Maybe he’s waiting for me to talk to him, but that’s not my style. Even in the practice room, people approach me first – I’m not the chatty type.
We can settle it on the dartboard. In the back room everything is normal, the preparation is the same. I think he’s forgotten about it, I’ve forgotten about it. If I need to talk, I will.
I don’t regret anything. We each have our opinions, and we’re entitled to them. On stage we’ve both moved on; off stage we haven’t spoken, but I’m sure we will eventually." Looking ahead, Littler is eager to face van Veen again on stage, confident that any lingering tension can be resolved through competition rather than conversation.
His recent form suggests he is more than capable of handling high‑pressure environments, whether it’s a hostile Dutch arena or a lukewarm English venue. The Premier League Darts table now shows Littler perched just three points behind the leader, with the final weeks of the season promising more dramatic matchups. Fans can continue to follow the league’s progress via Sky Sports, which provides live streams, highlights, and in‑depth analysis each Thursday until May. The league’s schedule and current standings are readily available online, and the “Love the Darts” podcast offers additional commentary and interviews with the sport’s top players.
For those who wish to watch the action live, NOW offers streaming options for Premier League Darts and other major sporting events. In summary, Luke Littler’s ability to brush off crowd hostility, maintain his composure, and deliver winning performances under pressure underscores his rising stature in the world of professional darts.
As the season draws toward its climax, all eyes will be on whether he can sustain his momentum, close the gap on Jonny Clayton, and perhaps settle the unfinished business with Gian van Veen on the oche. The narrative of resilience, mental fortitude, and sportsmanship continues to define Littler’s journey, making him a compelling figure to watch as the Premier League Darts race intensifies.