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 actively trying to eliminate whistling from venues while acknowledging that booing is likely to remain a fixture of the sport. 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 heavy 10-4 defeat to Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. While the loss itself was a major story, the conversation quickly shifted to Littler’s increasingly strained relationship with the crowds that line the oche.
Earlier in the tournament, the 19‑year‑old threatened to boycott future Dutch events after he was subjected to a chorus of boos and whistles following his victory over Nathan Aspinall. The hostile atmosphere persisted when he faced home‑favorite Danny Noppert on Friday, and it escalated on Saturday when referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in during Littler’s last‑16 win over Aspinall to calm a rowdy audience. Littler is not new to confronting volatile crowds.
He previously opted out of several European Tour stops in Germany, citing the treatment he received from fans there as a key factor in his decision. Nevertheless, Webster believes that Littler’s love for the game will keep him from walking away entirely.
"No, I don’t think he’s going to walk away from the sport over this," Webster told Sky Sports. "He was obviously very upset about how he was treated in the Netherlands, but when you play a home favourite like Danny Noppert you’re bound to attract some rough treatment as well." Webster went on to comment on the broader issue of crowd noise. He acknowledged that the PDC is making a concerted effort to eradicate whistling, which many players find distracting, especially when it occurs at the moment a dart is released. "The whistling is a bugbear for a lot of players right now.
The PDC are experimenting with new security measures to curb it, but the booing is part of the game now and it’s not going away overnight," he said. He added that Littler has already drawn attention to the problem by speaking out, and that his candor may actually help the PDC refine its approach.
"He’s not happy with the treatment he got after his matches, and that’s understandable. A constant boo can be endured, but whistling can throw a player off balance," Webster explained. When asked whether Littler might skip future Dutch tournaments, Webster said the player has the freedom to cherry‑pick his schedule. "There are fifteen European Tour events a year, but he doesn’t have to go to the Netherlands for all of them.
He could still play the Premier League night there and miss the rest if he wishes," he noted. Webster stressed that Littler’s career is still in its early stages and that he has plenty of time to recover from a disappointing weekend. "He loves playing darts and he’s brilliant at it, so I think he’ll bounce back.
He’s dealt with rough crowds before and will continue to do so while focusing on winning matches and titles," Webster said. Beyond the immediate controversy, Webster highlighted Littler’s status as the sport’s marquee attraction. "We’re still riding the boom that his breakthrough created. After reaching the World Championship final on debut and then winning back‑to‑back World Championships, people buy tickets specifically to see him," he said.
"Yes, they may boo or whistle, but that’s part of the culture surrounding top players. The crowd wants to see the best knocked off their perch, and that tension can actually fire a player up." Looking ahead, Webster is optimistic about Littler’s prospects at upcoming majors. He believes the teenager will recover his confidence at the Grand Prix in Leicester and continue to add to his growing trophy cabinet.
"He’s only 19, but he’s been on the circuit since he was 16. In three years he’s already contested almost every major.
It will be tough to hold every title, but he has the talent and hunger to keep fighting," Webster asserted. Webster also urged Littler not to be overly harsh on himself after the loss to Clayton. "He acknowledged that he was beaten by a better player and was simply disappointed with the crowd.
That’s a reasonable reaction," Webster said. "I fully expect him to win a few of the remaining majors, especially the European Championships, which is a massive priority for him. If he can tick that box, he’ll be on track to defend his World Championship at Ally Pally and cement his place as world No 1." The path to a clean sweep of the 2026 ranking events remains technically open. While the World Series Finals, World Cup and Premier League are non‑ranking, Littler could still claim all four remaining major titles in Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead this autumn.
However, the teenager withdrew from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands less than a day after his bid for a major clean‑sweep was shattered, and he hinted he might skip the Players Championship Finals if his hopes of a perfect season have faded. At present, Littler sits about £16,750 short of the final qualification spot for the Players Championship Finals, a gap that could influence his future scheduling decisions. Regardless, 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)—through its NOW platform, ensuring fans can follow Littler’s journey wherever he chooses to compete.