Luke Littler showed little concern for the jeers he endured in Liverpool as he secured his twelfth night victory in the Premier League, describing the hostile reaction he faced on the previous night in Rotterdam as "the worst he has ever experienced." In recent weeks, Littler has become increasingly familiar with negative crowd reactions, the most intense of which erupted after a heated exchange with Dutch No. 1 Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. The controversy began when van Veen clinched a tightly contested match.
As the Dutchman prepared to throw the decisive darts, he turned toward Littler, prompting an angry response from the Englishman. Van Veen accused Littler of being "out of order" for "celebrating towards the crowd," a comment that ignited a feud between the two competitors. The tension spilled over into the next event, where Littler was met with a chorus of boos each time he stepped onto the stage during his three matches on Night 11 in Rotterdam, performed in front of van Veen's home supporters.
Despite the cold reception, Littler remained unfazed when he arrived in Liverpool for the M&S Bank Arena showdown. He silenced the dissenting fans by defeating three of the sport's biggest names—Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and Jonny Clayton—in succession, earning his fifth consecutive nightly win. 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 about the Rotterdam incident, Littler shrugged it off, saying, "It is what it is.
I've won and we move on to next week." He contrasted the atmosphere in Liverpool with the louder, more hostile environment he had encountered in Rotterdam, adding, "Rotterdam was way louder than this tonight. This week was nothing compared to last week.
I just had to forget about it and stay focused on winning, which I did." Littler later emphasized that he had already demonstrated his ability to thrive under pressure the previous week, stating, "I proved I can win games under those circumstances, and I've done it again. There's no anxiety for me; I expect the worst, but it wasn't worse than Rotterdam. That was the toughest experience, and it's satisfying to come through those games successfully." It has now been three weeks since the original spat between Littler and van Veen, a dispute that has fueled crowd animosity toward Littler each night. Although the two have not spoken since the incident, Littler believes both players have moved past the drama.
He remains open to resolving the issue on the dartboard should they meet again in competition. "No, we have not spoken, but I'm not the type of person to go up and talk to him," Littler explained. "Maybe he's waiting for me, but that's not my style.
Even in the practice room, people approach me first. I prefer to let the game speak for itself. In the back room, everything is normal; preparation hasn't changed. I think he's forgotten about it, and I have 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 focus on the game; off stage we haven't spoken, but I’m sure we will eventually." Looking ahead, Littler is eager to settle any lingering tension with van Veen the next time they share the stage. He remains confident that his performance will speak louder than any words, noting that his recent string of victories proves he can thrive even when the crowd is against him. The Premier League Darts title race continues to heat up, with defending champion Luke Humphries aiming to retain his crown.
Fans can tune in each Thursday until May on Sky Sports or stream the action via NOW for live coverage, highlights, and expert analysis. The competition promises more drama, high‑stakes matches, and the chance for players like Littler to further cement their place among darts' elite.