Luke Littler took the boos he endured in Liverpool in stride as he secured Night 12 of the Premier League, insisting that the hostile reaction he faced on Night 11 in Rotterdam was "the worst he has ever experienced." Over recent weeks, Littler has grown accustomed to being jeered by various audiences, with the most intense backlash stemming from his clash with Dutch No. 1 Gian van Veen during Night Nine in Manchester. The controversy began when van Veen clinched a tightly contested match. Littler erupted in anger after his opponent turned toward him while throwing his match darts, prompting van Veen to label Littler "out of order" for "celebrating toward the crowd." The exchange ignited a wave of boos that followed Littler onto the stage for each of his three matches on his road to the final on Night 11 in Rotterdam, a venue packed with van Veen's home supporters.
Despite the chilly reception in Liverpool, the Manchester native refused to be rattled. At the M&S Bank Arena he dispatched Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton in succession, earning his fifth consecutive nightly victory.
The win placed him just three points behind Clayton at the top of the table, with four regular weeks still to play. For Littler, the Rotterdam episode was a benchmark of adversity, but it did not deter him. "It is what it is – the crowd booing.
I’ve won, and we move on to next week," he told Sky Sports. "Rotterdam was far louder than tonight.
This week was nothing compared with last week. I just had to forget about it, stay focused, and I wanted to win – and I did." He added later, "I proved last week that I can win under those conditions, and I’ve done it again. There’s no anxiety – I expect the worst, but it wasn’t worse than Rotterdam. That was the toughest experience, and it feels good to come through those games despite the atmosphere." It has now been three weeks since the original spat between Littler and van Veen, a confrontation that sparked a lingering dislike for Littler among certain crowds.
The two have yet to speak, but Littler believes both have moved beyond the incident. He remains eager to settle the score on the dartboard should they meet again on stage. "No, we haven’t spoken, but I’m not the type to go up and talk to him," Littler explained. "Maybe he’s waiting for me to approach him, but that’s not my style.
Even in the practice room, people come to me first. I’m not one to chat away. We can obviously settle it on the dartboard. Behind the scenes 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 to him, I will. I don’t regret anything. I had my opinion, he has his, we’re both entitled to them.
We’ve both moved on on stage, but off stage we haven’t spoken yet. I’m sure we will eventually." Littler’s calm demeanor and ability to thrive under pressure have made him a fan favourite, even as he navigates the occasional hostility.
His recent string of victories demonstrates a resilience that many seasoned players admire. As the Premier League darts season progresses, the competition remains fierce. Defending champion Luke Humphries aims to retain his title, while Littler, now firmly in the title chase, looks to maintain his momentum.
The Premier League schedule continues with weekly Thursday fixtures on Sky Sports, and fans can stream the action through NOW. With only a handful of weeks left, the leaderboard is tight, and each night could prove decisive.
Littler’s next challenge will be to keep his composure, ignore any lingering boos, and focus on delivering the high‑scoring darts that have propelled him to the top of the standings. Beyond the immediate matches, the Littler‑van Veen saga adds an extra narrative layer to the league. Their rivalry, sparked by a moment of frustration, now fuels speculation about a possible showdown later in the season. Should they meet again, the atmosphere is likely to be electric, with both players eager to prove a point on the oche.
In summary, Luke Littler has demonstrated that crowd hostility does not dictate performance. By shrugging off the Liverpool jeers and labeling the Rotterdam boos as the worst he’s faced, he underscores a professional mindset that prioritises focus and execution over external noise. As the Premier League darts race heads into its final stretch, all eyes will be on Littler to see if he can sustain his impressive run and perhaps claim the top spot before the season concludes.