Sky Sports Darts analyst Mark Webster is confident that Luke Littler will not abandon his darts career because of the way spectators have treated him, even though the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is working hard to eliminate whistling from venues while accepting that boos are likely to persist. Littler entered the 2026 season with the ambition of capturing every major PDC title, a quest that was abruptly halted on Sunday when he suffered a decisive 10-4 loss to Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. While the defeat itself made headlines, the broader discussion centered on Littler’s ongoing, often turbulent, relationship with darts fans.
Earlier in the tournament, after defeating Nathan Aspinall, Littler publicly threatened to boycott future events in the Netherlands, citing the boos and whistling he endured during his victory celebration. The tension escalated when he faced Dutch favourite Danny Noppert on Friday; the crowd’s hostility grew louder, and on Saturday referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in during Littler’s last‑16 win over Aspinall to restore order. Littler is not new to confronting volatile audiences.
He previously refused to travel to German European Tour stops after experiencing what he described as hostile treatment from local supporters. Nonetheless, Webster believes that Littler’s displeasure will not push him out of the sport entirely.
"No, I don’t think he’s going to walk away from darts over this," Webster told Sky Sports. "He was clearly upset about the treatment he received in the Netherlands, especially after the match against Noppert, but this kind of reaction is something many players have had to deal with at some point." Webster acknowledged the PDC’s ongoing campaign to curb whistling, noting that while the organization can influence crowd conduct, it cannot fully eradicate booing, which has become an ingrained part of the atmosphere. "The whistling is a real nuisance; it can distract a player at the moment they’re releasing the dart," he explained.
"Booing, on the other hand, is something players have learned to tune out over the years. Luke has dealt with it before, and I expect he’ll manage it again." He added that security personnel are experimenting with new crowd‑control measures, but the intensity of the Dutch crowd proved overwhelming for Littler during the weekend.
"He voiced his frustration after his matches, and while I don’t condone the behaviour, it’s clear that a lot of the booing has become part of the game’s culture," Webster said. Regarding Littler’s future schedule, Webster pointed out that the player can selectively skip events in the Netherlands if he wishes. "There’s a Premier League night there that he’ll probably still attend, but the European Tour consists of fifteen stops throughout the year. He doesn’t have to go to every Dutch venue; he can cherry‑pick the ones that suit him best," Webster noted.
"Even if he decides to boycott certain tournaments, he can still map out a full calendar and remain competitive.” Webster emphasized that Littler is still very young—only 19—and has a long career ahead. "He loves darts and he’s exceptionally talented, so I don’t see him quitting early because of a few rough crowds. He’ll bounce back, keep winning matches, and continue to add titles to his résumé. The disappointment he felt this weekend is understandable, but it won’t define his trajectory.” Beyond the immediate controversy, Webster highlighted Littler’s status as the sport’s marquee attraction.
"We’re still riding the wave of what Luke has achieved in the past three years," he said. "After reaching the World Championship final on his debut and then securing back‑to‑back World Championship titles, he has become a ticket‑seller.
Fans come to see him, even if they sometimes boo or whistle when he throws.” Webster described the cultural context in darts, where top players often attract a degree of antagonism. "In Britain we have a tradition of giving the best players a bit of rough treatment – it’s almost a rite of passage. It can fire them up, and Luke has shown he can use that energy positively.” Looking ahead, Webster is optimistic about Littler’s prospects at upcoming majors such as the Grand Prix in Leicester.
"He’s still only 19, but he’s been competing at the highest level since he was 16. In three years he’s already amassed a remarkable list of achievements, and many are already talking about a possible clean sweep of every major event.” Webster urged Littler not to be too hard on himself after the loss to Clayton. "Jonny played better on the day, and Luke acknowledged that. The crowd was a distraction, but the primary focus should be on the quality of the opponent.
I expect him to win several more majors this year, especially the European Championships, which would complete his set of titles and cement his No. 1 ranking.” If Littler can capture the remaining four majors—Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead—he will still have a chance to dominate the ranking events in 2026, even though the World Series Finals, World Cup and Premier League are non‑ranking tournaments. The teenager, known as “The Nuke,” recently withdrew from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands less than a day after his clean‑sweep dream was shattered. He is currently £16,750 short of the final qualification spot for the Players Championship Finals and hinted he might skip that event if his major‑sweep hopes are gone.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast the sport’s biggest stages, including the World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January). Fans can stream all action via NOW without a contract.