Luke Littler has openly acknowledged that he still hasn’t had a word with Dutch rival Gian van Veen since their heated exchange in Manchester, but he maintains that the incident has been put 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 at the end of the evening and sparked a flurry of commentary on social media, with both men subsequently defending their own perspectives. When asked about any reconciliation, Littler was blunt: “No, we haven’t spoken.
I’m not the sort of person who goes over and tries to talk it out.” He suggested that perhaps van Veen might be waiting for him to make the first move, but Littler insists he prefers to let others initiate contact. “Even in the practice room, people usually come to me first. I’m not the type to chase a conversation,” he added. Despite the lack of direct communication, Littler said he is eager for a rematch, noting that the two could potentially meet again if they both advance to one of the upcoming finals in Aberdeen, Leeds or Birmingham.
He stressed that any resolution will ultimately be decided on the oche rather than in a hallway. “We can obviously settle it on the darts board.
Behind the scenes, everything has been normal and our preparation hasn’t changed,” he explained. Littler also hinted that both players have moved on mentally.
“I think he’s forgotten about it, and I’ve forgotten about it as well. I went on holiday the day after and didn’t dwell on it,” he said, underscoring his focus on the sport rather than the drama. The fallout from the Manchester episode has not been entirely benign for Littler.
He reported receiving a hostile reception in Rotterdam last week, and a similarly unfriendly atmosphere in Liverpool on Thursday. Nevertheless, he managed to silence the dissenters with an impressive run of victories, overcoming Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton to claim the night’s title. When pressed about regrets, Littler was unequivocal: “No, I don’t regret anything.
Everyone has an opinion, and I respect that. We’ve both moved on with our game on stage, even if we haven’t spoken off stage.” He described the past couple of weeks as challenging but emphasized that he simply had to keep playing.
“Winning tonight gives me confidence and reminds me why I’m here – to play darts and win.” Success on the Mersey’s banks holds special significance for Littler, who has never felt entirely welcomed in Liverpool. A self‑confessed 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. However, he noted that the reception in Liverpool was still milder compared to the hostility he faced in van Veen’s home city of Rotterdam.
“Rotterdam was far worse than tonight,” Littler recounted. “I even proved last week that I can win under those conditions. There was no anxiety – I just expected the worst, and it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam. That was the toughest experience I’ve had.” Looking ahead, Littler remains focused on the remainder of the Premier League Darts season, which will culminate in the finals in May.
He reiterated that his priority is to keep improving his game and to let his performances speak for themselves. “Just playing darts is what I do now. Every win builds my confidence and pushes me forward.” Fans of the sport can continue to follow the weekly Thursday action and the eventual championship showdown on Sky Sports, with live streaming available through NOW.
The ongoing narrative between Littler and van Veen adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already competitive league, but both players have signaled that the true battle will be settled on the board, not in the press room.