Sky Sports Darts analyst Mark Webster is confident that Luke Littler will not abandon his darts career because of the way crowds have treated him, even though the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is working hard to eliminate whistling from venues while acknowledging that booing is likely to persist. Littler’s ambition to claim every major PDC title in the 2026 season was shattered 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. The defeat itself was a major story, but the post‑match discussion quickly shifted to Littler’s ongoing friction with spectators. Earlier in the tournament the 19‑year‑old had threatened to skip future Dutch events after being met with boos and whistling during his victory over Nathan Aspinall.
The tension escalated during his Friday win against Dutch favourite Danny Noppert, and on Saturday referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in during Littler’s last‑16 triumph over Aspinall to restore order. Littler is not new to confronting hostile crowds. He previously refused to travel to the German leg of the European Tour after experiencing similar treatment from fans there.
Nevertheless, Webster believes the youngster 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 told Sky Sports.
"He was obviously upset about how he was treated in the Netherlands this weekend, and he also faced a tough atmosphere when he played a home favourite like Danny Noppert." Webster acknowledged that while the PDC is actively trying to curb whistling – which many players find distracting when they are in the throwing stance – booing is a more entrenched part of the game’s culture. "I’m not saying the booing is right, but it’s become part of the sport. The whistling is a bugbear for a lot of players right now, and the PDC is experimenting with security measures to reduce it," he explained. He added that Littler’s complaints after his matches reflect a broader issue: "He’s spoken out about the treatment he received, and while I don’t like to see players upset, a lot of the booing is just part of darts now.
He’s drawn attention to it, which might actually help the PDC address it." According to Webster, the whistling is more disruptive than the booing because it can break a player’s concentration at the moment of release. "A constant boo is something players can learn to ignore, but whistling is sharper and can really throw a thrower off.
Luke has dealt with it before, and I’m sure he’ll manage again." When asked whether Littler might start boycotting Dutch events, Webster said the player has the freedom to pick and choose his schedule. "If he decides to miss the European Tour stops in the Netherlands, that’s his prerogative.
There are fifteen European Tour events throughout the year, but he doesn’t have to play all of them. He can still compete in the Premier League night there and other major tournaments elsewhere." Webster stressed that Littler still has a long career ahead and is unlikely to retire early because of crowd hostility. "He loves playing darts and he’s brilliant at it, so I think he’ll bounce back. He’ll keep facing rough treatment, but he’ll deal with it as he always has – by focusing on winning matches and titles." The analyst also highlighted Littler’s status as the sport’s marquee attraction.
"We’re still riding the wave of what he achieved – a debut run to the World Championship final and back‑to‑back World Championship titles. Fans buy tickets to see him, even if they boo or whistle. He’s the best player in the world, and in darts there’s a tradition of the top players getting a bit of rough treatment. It’s part of the culture." Webster believes Littler will recover quickly and perform strongly at upcoming events such as the Grand Prix in Leicester.
"He’s only 19, but he’s been on the circuit since he was 16 and has amassed a huge résumé in three years. It’s easy to forget his age because of his experience.
He’s already talking about holding every major title, which is a massive challenge but not impossible for him." Regarding the recent loss, Webster said Littler should not be too hard on himself. "He lost to a better player in Jonny Clayton and he acknowledged that. He was just disappointed with the crowd, but that’s a separate issue." Looking ahead, Webster expects Littler to capture several of the remaining majors this season, particularly the European Championships, which he sees as a key target for the teenager to complete his collection of titles.
"If he ticks that box, he can head to Ally Pally and try to retain his World Championship, cementing his place at world No 1." The next few months are packed with high‑profile tournaments: 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). All will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming available via NOW without a contract. In summary, while Littler may choose to avoid certain Dutch events, Webster is convinced the 19‑year‑old will continue to compete at the highest level, adapt to crowd dynamics, and add more major trophies to his already impressive haul.