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 working hard to eliminate whistling from venues. He acknowledges that booing is likely to remain a part of the sport’s atmosphere. Littler’s ambitious plan to capture 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.
While the defeat itself was a headline, the discussion that followed focused largely on Littler’s ongoing, sometimes turbulent, relationship with darts fans. Earlier in the tournament, after a hard‑won victory over Nathan Aspinall, Littler publicly threatened to boycott future events in the Netherlands because he was met with a chorus of boos and a persistent whistle. The tension escalated when he later faced Dutch favourite Danny Noppert on Friday; the crowd’s hostility grew louder, and on Saturday the situation boiled over during his last‑16 clash with Aspinall, prompting referee Charlie Corstorphine to step in and try to calm the arena.
Littler is not new to confronting volatile crowds. He previously decided to skip European Tour stops in Germany after experiencing similar treatment from local supporters. Despite those incidents, Webster does not think the youngster will walk away from 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 this weekend, but you have to remember that when you play a home favourite like Danny Noppert you’re going to get some rough treatment as well." Webster went on to comment on the broader issue of crowd conduct. He noted that the PDC is actively trying to eradicate whistling because it distracts players at the moment they are throwing. "I’m not saying the booing is right, but it’s become part of the game.
The whistling, however, is a real bugbear for many players right now and the organisation is experimenting with security measures to curb it," he explained. He added that Littler had expressed his displeasure after his matches, saying the atmosphere had been "unacceptable". Yet Webster believes that booing, while unpleasant, is something players can learn to live with. "A constant boo is something players can deal with.
Luke has dealt with it before and I’m sure he’ll be fine," he said. Regarding future participation, Webster pointed out that Littler can simply avoid the Dutch leg of the European Tour if he wishes. "There are fifteen European Tour events throughout the year, but he doesn’t have to go to the Netherlands. He can cherry‑pick the ones that suit him," Webster noted, emphasizing that the player still has plenty of opportunities to earn ranking points elsewhere.
He also stressed that Littler is still very young with a long career ahead. "He loves playing darts and he’s brilliant at it, so I think he’ll bounce back.
He may get a bit of rough treatment, but he’ll keep focusing on winning matches and titles," Webster said. Webster highlighted that despite the controversy, Littler remains the sport’s marquee attraction. At just 19, the teenager has already achieved a debut World Championship final appearance, back‑to‑back World Championship victories, and a reputation for delivering high‑quality darts under pressure. "People buy tickets to see him, even if they boo or whistle.
He’s the best player in the world right now and the culture in darts tends to give the top players a bit of a hard time," Webster observed. He believes Littler will use the disappointment of the Amsterdam loss as motivation for upcoming events, particularly the Grand Prix in Leicester. "He’ll come back the right way, fire himself up and keep chasing majors. The European Championships will be a massive priority for him because a win there would complete his collection of major titles for the year," Webster said.
If Littler can capture the remaining four majors – the Grand Prix in Leicester, the German Darts Grand Prix in Dortmund, the Players Championship in Wolverhampton, and the Masters in Minehead – he will finish 2026 with a clean sweep of all PDC majors, a feat no one has ever accomplished. The World Series Finals, World Cup and Premier League are non‑ranking events, so they would not affect his ranking tally, but they would still add to his trophy cabinet.
In the meantime, the teenager has already withdrawn from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands, less than a day after his hopes of a major clean‑sweep were dashed. He is currently about £16,750 short of the final qualification spot for the Players Championship Finals, and he hinted that he might not travel to the Netherlands again if his ambitions are thwarted. Webster concluded on an optimistic note, saying that Littler’s talent, work ethic, and hunger will keep him at the top of the sport for years to come.
"He’s only 19, but he’s been on the circuit since he was 16. In three short years he’s already talked about holding every major.
That’s extraordinary. He’ll keep winning, keep improving and keep cementing his place as world No 1," Webster affirmed.
The upcoming darts calendar remains packed with high‑profile events that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, 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). Fans can stream all the action via NOW with no contract required.