Mark Webster of Sky Sports Darts is confident that Luke "The Nuke" Littler will not abandon his darts career simply because of the way some spectators treat him. While the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is working hard to eliminate whistling from venues, Webster acknowledges that booing is likely to remain a fixture of the sport. Littler entered the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam with the ambitious aim of capturing every major PDC title that year.
His quest was halted in the quarter‑finals when he suffered a decisive 10‑4 loss to Jonny Clayton. The defeat was a disappointment, but the conversation that dominated the post‑match analysis centred on Littler’s ongoing friction with crowds rather than the scoreline itself.
Earlier in the tournament, Littler threatened to boycott future events in the Netherlands after he was subjected to a chorus of boos and whistles following his victory over Nathan Aspinall. The tension escalated on Friday when he faced Dutch favourite Danny Noppert, and again on Saturday when referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in during Littler’s last‑16 win over Aspinall to calm an increasingly hostile audience. Littler is not new to confrontations with volatile spectators.
He previously opted out of several European Tour stops in Germany, citing the hostile atmosphere he experienced there. Despite these past incidents, Webster believes the 19‑year‑old will not walk away from darts altogether.
"No, I don’t think he’s going to walk away from the sport over this," Webster said. "He was obviously very upset about how he was treated in the Netherlands, but when you play a home favourite like Danny Noppert you can expect a certain level of rough treatment." Webster stressed that while the PDC is actively trying to eradicate whistling—a sound that many players find distracting—booing is entrenched in the culture of darts and is unlikely to disappear. "I’m not saying it’s right, and the whistling, I know they’re trying to take it out of the game.
The booing, they won’t be able to stop, but the whistling is something that’s a bugbear to a lot of players at the minute. The PDC are trying to get rid of it," he explained.
He added that security personnel are experimenting with new crowd‑control measures, but the problem persisted for Littler during the Dutch weekend. "He was saying after games he wasn’t happy with the treatment he got.
I don’t like saying it, but a lot of the booing is part of the game now. He kind of has drawn attention to it by speaking about it," Webster noted. According to Webster, the whistling is more than a minor annoyance; it can actually interfere with a player’s rhythm, especially when it occurs while a dart is being thrown. "The whistling is annoying, and I think it’s a bit sharper when the players are throwing and it puts them off.
A constant boo, I think players can deal with. Luke has dealt with it in the past, and I’m sure he’ll be okay," he said. If Littler decides to skip future Dutch events, Webster believes he can still craft a successful schedule. The Netherlands hosts a Premier League night that Littler is likely to attend, but the bulk of the European Tour—about fifteen events—offers plenty of alternative venues.
"He doesn’t really need to go to the Netherlands, so he can cherry‑pick there. If he does decide to boycott, he can still plan out his year, really," Webster asserted. Webster is confident that Littler’s career is far from over.
"He’s got a long time left in the sport. I don’t think he’ll leave the sport as early as people make out. He loves playing darts and he’s brilliant at it, so I think he’ll just bounce back," the pundit said.
He expects Littler to continue dealing with occasional rough treatment, focusing instead on winning matches and tournaments. Beyond the immediate controversy, Webster highlighted Littler’s status as the sport’s marquee attraction. "We’re still in this boom on the back of what he did," he remarked.
"There are other players, but he is the main draw. After that run to the World Championship final on debut, and he’s backed it up by winning back‑to‑back World Championships. People buy a ticket to watch him.
They may boo him, they may whistle when he throws." Webster explained that the culture in darts often involves the crowd trying to unsettle the best players, a tradition that can be both a motivator and a distraction. "He gets fired up himself, and I’m sure he’ll bounce back in the right way at the Grand Prix in Leicester," Webster added.
He also reminded fans that Littler is only 19, having started competing on the professional circuit at 16. In just three years he has amassed a remarkable résumé, including a debut World Championship final appearance and consecutive world titles.
"It’s easy to forget he’s 19 because he’s been around since he was 16, and he’s done a lot in those three years. We’re already talking about him holding every major. As good as he is, that’s always going to be difficult," Webster said. Regarding the weekend’s loss, Webster urged Littler not to be too hard on himself.
"He was beaten by the better man in Jonny. He acknowledged that. He was just a bit disappointed with the crowd," he said.
He expects Littler to claim more major titles this season, with the European Championships a key target. A victory there would give Littler the chance to complete a clean sweep of all major ranking events, a feat that would cement his place at world number one. Webster believes Littler’s strengths are particularly suited to longer‑format tournaments, where his consistency and mental resilience shine. "Who’s going to compete in there?
It’s going to be tough, but it’s up to the other players and to see where his hunger is at in a minute," he concluded. In summary, while the Dutch crowd’s behaviour has been a source of frustration for Littler, the young champion’s talent, determination, and love for the sport suggest he will continue to thrive. The PDC’s ongoing efforts to curb whistling, combined with Littler’s willingness to pick and choose his events, should allow him to focus on what he does best: winning darts. Littler still has the opportunity to sweep the remaining ranking events in 2026.
The World Series Finals, World Cup and Premier League are non‑ranking, but the four remaining majors—Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead—are still up for grabs. After withdrawing from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands, Littler remains within striking distance of the final qualification spot for the Players Championship Finals.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast the sport’s biggest stages, including the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship, ensuring fans can follow Littler’s journey wherever it leads.