Sky Sports Darts analyst Mark Webster is confident that Luke Littler will not abandon his darts career because of the way some spectators behave, even though the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is actively trying to eliminate whistling from venues while accepting that booing is likely to remain a permanent feature of the sport. Littler’s ambitious quest for a clean sweep of every major PDC title in the 2026 calendar came to an abrupt end on Sunday when he suffered a heavy 10-4 loss to Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
While the defeat itself was a major talking point, the post‑match discussion quickly shifted to Littler’s ongoing, sometimes turbulent, relationship with darts fans. Earlier in the tournament the 19‑year‑old had publicly threatened to boycott future events in the Netherlands after he was subjected to a chorus of boos and whistling during his victory over Nathan Aspinall. The hostile atmosphere followed him into his Friday win over Dutch favourite Danny Noppert, and on Saturday night the situation escalated further when referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in during Littler’s last‑16 triumph over Aspinall to restore order.
Littler is not new to confronting volatile crowds. He previously opted out of several European Tour stops in Germany, citing the aggressive treatment he received from local supporters. Nevertheless, Webster believes that the young star will not walk away from the sport entirely because of these incidents. "No, I don’t think he’s going to walk away from darts over this," Webster said.
"He was obviously very upset about how he was treated in the Netherlands this weekend, but when you play a home favourite like Danny Noppert you always expect a bit of rough treatment." Webster acknowledged that while the PDC is making a concerted effort to curb whistling – a noise that many players find distracting and even unsettling when they are in the throwing rhythm – booing is entrenched in darts culture and unlikely to disappear completely. He explained that security personnel are experimenting with new crowd‑control measures, but the problem still landed squarely on Littler’s shoulders during the Dutch event. "He told me after his matches that he wasn’t happy with the treatment he got.
I don’t like saying it, but a lot of the booing is now part of the game," Webster continued. "He has drawn attention to it by speaking out, and that’s a good thing because it forces the organisers to address the issue." According to Webster, whistling is particularly irritating because it can interfere with a player’s concentration at the exact moment they are releasing the dart. Booing, by contrast, is something players have learned to tune out over the years. "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," Webster added. When asked whether Littler might start skipping Dutch events altogether, Webster said the decision would be his to make.
He noted that the Premier League night in the Netherlands is a marquee fixture that Littler is likely to attend, but the European Tour comprises fifteen events spread across the season, many of which are held elsewhere. "If he chooses to miss the Netherlands, he can still cherry‑pick his schedule and plan a successful year," Webster explained.
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 quit as early as some people suggest," he said.
"He loves playing darts and he’s brilliant at it, so I think he’ll bounce back, take the rough treatment in stride, and keep winning games and tournaments." Beyond the immediate controversy, Webster highlighted Littler’s status as the sport’s biggest draw. The teenager’s meteoric rise – a debut World Championship final appearance followed by back‑to‑back World Championship titles – has turned him into a ticket‑selling attraction. Even when fans boo or whistle, they still flock to venues to watch him compete. "We’re still riding the wave of what he did," Webster said.
"There are other great players, but he is the main draw. After that run to the World Championship final on debut, and then winning two titles in a row, people buy a ticket to see him.
They may boo him, they may whistle when he throws, but they’re there for the spectacle." Webster also pointed out that the culture in darts often involves a degree of rough treatment for the sport’s elite. "The best players receive a bit of rough treatment – fans want to knock them off their perch.
He gets fired up himself, and I’m sure he’ll bounce back at the Grand Prix in Leicester," he said. He reminded listeners that Littler is still only 19, having turned professional at 16, and that his achievements in three short years are extraordinary. "We’re already talking about him holding every major.
As good as he is, that will always be a tough challenge," Webster noted. He urged Littler not to be too hard on himself after the loss to Jonny Clayton, emphasizing that the defeat was at the hands of a superior opponent and that Littler himself recognised that fact.
Looking ahead, Webster expects Littler to target the remaining majors this season, especially the European Championships, which he sees as a crucial milestone. "If he wins that, he will have ticked every box," Webster said. "Then there’s the World Championship at Ally Pally – he’ll be looking to retain his title, keep the streak alive, and cement his place as world No 1." Webster believes the longer‑format tournaments suit Littler’s style and that he will continue to collect major titles.
"Who’s going to compete in there? It’ll be tough, but it’s up to the other players and to see where his hunger is at," he concluded. If Littler can capture the four remaining majors – Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead – he could still sweep the ranking events in 2026. The World Series Finals, World Cup and Premier League are non‑ranking, so a clean‑sweep of the majors would be a historic feat.
The teenager, nicknamed “The Nuke,” recently withdrew from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands less than 24 hours after his bid for a major clean‑sweep 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 be the primary broadcaster for darts, covering the World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October), Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January). Fans can stream all the action via NOW without a contract.