Sky Sports Darts analyst Mark Webster is confident that Luke Littler will not abandon his darts career because of the way spectators have been treating him, even though the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is working hard to eliminate whistling from venues. According to Webster, booing is likely to remain a permanent feature of the sport, but the more disruptive whistling is being tackled by officials and security staff. 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.
While the defeat itself made headlines, the conversation that dominated post‑match analysis centred on Littler’s ongoing friction with darts fans. Earlier in the tournament the 19‑year‑old threatened to boycott future events in the Netherlands after he was subjected to a chorus of boos and whistles following his victory over Nathan Aspinall. The tension escalated during his Friday win against home favourite Danny Noppert, and on Saturday referee Charlie Corstorphine had to step in to calm the crowd during Littler’s last‑16 triumph over Aspinall. Littler is not new to confronting volatile audiences.
He previously refused to travel to the German leg of the European Tour after experiencing similar hostility from spectators there. Despite those past incidents, Webster does not think the young star will walk away from darts 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 at the weekend, but a lot of the opponents he faced – for example Danny Noppert, a Dutch favourite – were going to give him a tough reception regardless." Webster acknowledged that the PDC is actively trying to curb whistling, describing it as a "bugbear" for many players. He said security teams are experimenting with new crowd‑control measures, but that the problem still landed squarely on Littler’s shoulders during the Dutch event. "The whistling is annoying, especially when players are in the throwing rhythm – it can throw them off.
Booing, on the other hand, is something players have learned to live with. Luke has dealt with it before and I’m sure he’ll manage again," Webster added.
If Littler decides to skip future Dutch tournaments, he will still have plenty of opportunities elsewhere. The PDC calendar includes fifteen European Tour stops throughout the year, and the Premier League night in the Netherlands remains an option for him.
Webster suggested that Littler could simply "cherry‑pick" the events that suit him, preserving his ranking and prize‑money prospects while avoiding the most hostile venues. "He’s got a long career ahead of him.
I don’t think he’ll retire early because of a few boos. He loves playing darts and he’s exceptionally talented, so I expect him to bounce back, continue winning matches and collect more titles," Webster said.
Webster also 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 titles – has helped sustain the current boom in darts popularity.
Fans may still chant or whistle, but they keep buying tickets to see him on stage. "He’s the best player in the world right now, and there’s a cultural tradition in darts of giving the top players a bit of rough treatment.
People want to see the champion knocked off his perch. That’s part of the drama," Webster explained. "Luke thrives on that pressure and will likely use it as fuel at upcoming events like the Grand Prix in Leicester." Webster reminded listeners that Littler’s age can be misleading. Although he is only 19, he has been competing at the highest level since he was 16 and has already amassed a remarkable résumé in three short years.
The prospect of holding every major title simultaneously is tantalising but extremely challenging. "He should not be too hard on himself after the weekend loss. Jonny Clayton simply played better, and Luke recognised that.
The disappointment stems more from the crowd atmosphere than the result," Webster said. Looking ahead, Webster expects Littler to target the remaining majors this season – the European Championships, the Grand Prix, the World Grand Prix and the World Championship – with the aim of completing a clean sweep of ranking events. Success in those tournaments would cement his position as world number one and add more major trophies to his collection.
The teenager has already withdrawn from two Players Championship events in the Netherlands, less than a day after his bid for a clean‑sweep was halted. He is currently £16,750 short of the final qualification spot for the Players Championship Finals, and he hinted that he might skip that event if his major‑title hopes are dashed.
Despite the setbacks, the PDC’s broadcast partner Sky Sports will continue to showcase 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). Fans can stream all the action via NOW without a contract, ensuring that even if some spectators are noisy, the sport’s global audience remains engaged.