Mark Webster of Sky Sports Darts is confident that Luke Littler will not abandon his darts career simply because of the way crowds treat him, even though the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is working hard to eliminate whistling from venues while acknowledging that booing is likely to remain a permanent feature of the sport. Littler’s dream of capturing every major PDC title in 2026 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 supporters. Earlier in the tournament, the 19‑year‑old was visibly upset after being booed and whistled at by the Dutch crowd following his victory over Nathan Aspinall. He even hinted at the possibility of boycotting future events in the Netherlands if the hostile atmosphere persisted.
The tension escalated during his Friday win over home favourite Danny Noppert, and on Saturday referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in during Littler’s last‑16 triumph over Aspinall to calm the situation. Littler is not new to confronting volatile audiences. He previously refused to travel to the German leg of the European Tour after experiencing similar treatment from fans there. Nevertheless, Webster does not think these incidents will push Littler 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 obviously very upset about how he was treated in the Netherlands over the weekend, but some of the opponents he faced – a home favourite like Danny Noppert – were always going to generate a rough reception." Webster went on to comment on the broader issue of crowd conduct. He acknowledged that while the PDC is actively trying to eradicate whistling – which many players find distracting, especially when it occurs at the moment they are about to throw – booing is entrenched in the sport’s culture and unlikely to disappear. "I’m not saying the booing is right, but it’s part of the game now," he said.
"The whistling is a bugbear for a lot of players at the moment, and the PDC are experimenting with security measures to curb it." According to Webster, Littler’s frustration after his matches is understandable, yet he believes the player has the mental resilience to cope. "A constant boo, I think players can deal with. Luke has dealt with it before and I’m sure he’ll be okay," Webster asserted.
He added that Littler can selectively skip events in the Netherlands if he wishes, noting that the European Tour comprises fifteen tournaments throughout the year, but the player does not need to attend every Dutch stop to maintain a competitive schedule. "If he chooses to miss events in the Netherlands, that’s his prerogative. There’s a Premier League night there that I think he’ll still play, but he can cherry‑pick the rest of his calendar," Webster explained. "He’s got a long career ahead of him, and I don’t think he’ll quit the sport as early as some people suggest." Webster emphasized Littler’s love for the game and his exceptional talent.
"He loves playing darts and he’s brilliant at it, so I think he’ll bounce back. He’ll face more rough treatment, but he’ll handle it the way he’s handled it most of the time – by winning games and tournaments," he said. "He was a little hurt over the weekend, but that’s temporary." Beyond the immediate controversy, Webster highlighted Littler’s status as the sport’s marquee attraction. 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 draw.
"We’re still riding the boom that his success created," Webster noted. "There are other great players, but he’s the main draw. Fans come to see him, even if they boo or whistle." He also pointed out that the culture of "rough treatment" for top players is deeply ingrained in darts.
"The best players often receive a bit of hostility – fans want to knock them off their perch. It can actually fire them up," Webster said.
"I’m sure Luke will bounce back at the Grand Prix in Leicester and continue to thrive." Webster reminded listeners that despite being only 19, Littler has been competing at the highest level since he was 16 and has already amassed a remarkable résumé in just three years. "People forget his age because he’s been around for a while, but he’s already talking about holding every major title," Webster said. "It’s a huge challenge, but he’s got the hunger." Regarding the recent loss to Jonny Clayton, Webster was sympathetic but realistic.
"He was beaten by a better man on the day, and he acknowledged that. He was just a bit disappointed with the crowd," he said.
"I expect him to win several of the remaining majors this season. The European Championships will be a massive priority for him – if he can tick that box, he’ll be on his way to completing a clean sweep of the majors." Looking ahead, Webster believes Littler’s path to the top of the rankings remains clear. "If he can capture the remaining four majors – in Leicester, Dortmund, Wolverhampton and Minehead – he could still sweep the ranking events in 2026," Webster explained. "The World Series Finals, World Cup and Premier League are non‑ranked, so the key is to win the majors that count toward the Order of Merit." The teenager has already withdrawn from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands less than 24 hours after his major‑sweep hopes were dashed, fueling speculation that he might skip the Players Championship Finals if his ambitions are thwarted.
However, Webster remains optimistic that Littler will regroup and continue to chase titles. Finally, Webster reminded fans that Sky Sports remains the primary broadcaster for darts, covering 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). Viewers can stream all the action via NOW without a contract, ensuring that even if crowds are noisy, the sport stays accessible to a global audience.