Luke Littler, known to fans as "The Nuke," has announced that he may boycott future darts tournaments in the Netherlands following a hostile reception during his recent victory over Nathan Aspinall at the World Series of Darts in Amsterdam. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about player safety and audience conduct in professional darts. In a tightly contested match that saw Littler edge out Aspinall 10-9, the young Englishman secured the win by taking the final two legs.
The triumph marked a significant milestone in his quest to become the first player ever to capture all ten major televised titles within a single calendar year—a feat that would place him alongside the sport's legends. However, the celebratory atmosphere was quickly eclipsed by a wave of boos and whistling that erupted from the crowd throughout the encounter. Littler's frustration was palpable. After the match, he recounted how the crowd's negativity intensified after his previous win against Dutch favorite Danny Noppert on Friday, and how the situation escalated on Saturday when referee Charlie Costorpine had to step in to calm the audience during the last‑16 bout with Aspinall.
The Englishman has previously spoken out against volatile spectators; he once refused to travel to European Tour events in Germany after experiencing similar hostility from fans there. He made it clear that he is "100 per cent" prepared to adopt the same stance in the Netherlands if the current atmosphere persists. "With the Germans, I haven't been for a long time; we will have to see in Dortmund whether it changes or stays the same," Littler told Online Darts. "If the Dutch stay like this, then I'm not going to do any Euro tours over there.
There's just no point in me travelling, wasting my time while I'm getting booed. I just want to play my darts, obviously sign autographs. The past two nights, I've done nothing, I've just walked off stage without thanking anybody. There's no point thanking everyone when they are booing me." The incident unfolded against the backdrop of a busy tournament schedule.
Earlier on Saturday, Gerwyn Price dispatched Jim Long 10-5, while James Wade overcame Wessel Nijman 10-7. In the afternoon session, Luke Humphries suffered a narrow 9-10 defeat at the hands of Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Josh Rock secured a 10-7 victory over Ryan Searle. Ross Smith also posted a solid 10-5 win over Daryl Gurney.
Van Duijvenbode's own match carried an emotional narrative. The Dutchman was accompanied on stage by his young son Levi, and he expressed how his child's presence helped him stay calm against the world number two. "Having my kid here is the best thing in my life. I won this game because he was here.
When you are playing against the world number two you are always nervous. When I looked up at him he made me so happy every time. It made me so relaxed. In the end that is the reason I won it," he said.
Other notable results included Gian van Veen's 10-7 triumph over Karel Sedlacek, setting up an all‑Dutch quarter‑final against Van Duijvenbode, and Jonny Clayton's 10-8 win over Motomu Sakai, which earned him a semi‑final clash with Littler. The tournament schedule continued with a packed Saturday evening session, featuring the Littler‑Aspinall showdown, and a Sunday that promised quarter‑finals, semi‑finals, and a final.
The full lineup was: Saturday, September 19 – Afternoon Session (Round Two): - Josh Rock 10-7 Ryan Searle - Ross Smith 10-5 Daryl Gurney - Gian van Veen 10-7 Karel Sedlacek - Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-9 Luke Humphries Saturday, September 19 – Evening Session (Round Two): - Jonny Clayton 10-8 Motomu Sakai - Gerwyn Price 10-5 Jim Long - James Wade 10-7 Wessel Nijman - Luke Littler 10-9 Nathan Aspinall Sunday, September 20 – Afternoon Quarter‑finals (from 12 pm): - Ross Smith vs. Josh Rock - Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Gian van Veen - Gerwyn Price vs. James Wade - Luke Littler vs.
Jonny Clayton Sunday, September 20 – Evening Session (from 6 pm): - Semi‑finals and Final Beyond the immediate drama, the event serves as a reminder of the broader calendar that Sky Sports will broadcast. The network will continue to be the primary home for darts, covering the World Grand Prix (September 28‑October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). Fans can also stream matches and related content via NOW without a contract, ensuring that the sport remains accessible even as individual players like Littler consider their participation in certain venues.
Littler's potential boycott raises important questions for tournament organizers, sponsors, and governing bodies about how to protect athletes from abusive crowds while preserving the vibrant atmosphere that makes live darts so compelling. As the sport continues to grow internationally, striking a balance between passionate fan engagement and respectful treatment of players will be essential to maintaining the integrity and appeal of the game.
Whether Littler ultimately decides to skip future Dutch events remains to be seen, but his statements have already sparked a dialogue among players, fans, and officials about the standards of conduct expected in arenas worldwide. The outcome of this conversation could shape policies for crowd management and player safety for years to come.