Luke Woodhouse stepped forward to defend the reputation of his younger compatriot, Luke Littler, urging the darts audience to recognise and back the 19‑year‑old’s extraordinary skill after Littler endured a series of boos at recent tournaments. The appeal came in the wake of a first‑round defeat for Littler at the World Grand Prix in Leicester, where Woodhouse eliminated the world No.1 with a narrow 2‑1 victory. During that match Littler’s average dipped to 82.41, suggesting he was not playing at his usual high standard, while Woodhouse rallied from a set down to secure a place in the last‑16 against Nathan Aspinall. Reflecting on his win, Woodhouse praised Littler’s impact on the sport, describing him as a "one‑of‑a‑kind" player who has elevated darts to new heights.
"Luke isn’t a robot; he’ll have days when his form isn’t perfect," Woodhouse said. "People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again: he’s a unique talent. I hope fans take the time to appreciate how good he is and truly support him, because you may never see another Luke Littler again." Littler’s recent encounters have not been kind to his popularity. Earlier in September, during the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands, sections of the crowd booed and whistled at him both in his opening match against Danny Noppert and later in a round‑of‑16 clash with Aspinall.
The situation escalated to the point where referee Charlie Corstorphine had to intervene to calm the spectators. The young champion even threatened to boycott Dutch events, subsequently withdrawing from two Players Championship tournaments in the country, before ultimately falling in the quarter‑finals to Jonny Clayton.
When asked why the reigning back‑to‑back PDC World Champion was receiving such a hostile reception, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a single reason. "He’s done for the game what legends like Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson have done, taking it to the next level," Woodhouse explained.
"I just hope people give him the support he deserves and recognise his top‑tier talent. Yes, he wasn’t at his best tonight and he lost last week, but he will go on to win many more titles." The match itself was a roller‑coaster.
After losing the opening set, Woodhouse fought back to level the contest and then surged ahead in the third set. He claimed the first two legs, Littler responded by taking the third, and Woodhouse sealed the deciding leg to close the set 3‑1, finishing with a checkout of 75. "It’s hard to sum up – a mix of emotions," Woodhouse said. "I felt I almost threw away the first set; I had chances to push it to a deciding leg and when I didn’t, I was angry with myself.
I sensed Littler wasn’t firing on all cylinders, so I thought, ‘Please don’t let him lose two sets when he’s off his game.’ In the end, it was a huge relief. I’m over the moon to beat someone of Luke’s calibre on a main stage." Woodhouse also highlighted the significance of defeating the world’s top‑ranked player, noting that while the short‑format nature of the Grand Prix demands a quick start and flawless doubles, the victory was a major milestone in his career.
"It’s fantastic," he added. "Luke is already on his way to being regarded as one of the greats, if not already there.
I’m aware the format is unforgiving – you have to hit your doubles early and often – but winning tournaments is what I’m here for." Looking ahead, the tournament will continue with the second round spread over Wednesday and Thursday, followed by quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with daily coverage through to the championship match.
For those without a contract, the event is also available to stream on NOW, ensuring that supporters worldwide can witness the drama and skill on display as the darts world watches both established stars and rising talents like Littler vie for glory.