Luke Woodhouse has publicly appealed to darts enthusiasts to rally behind the young prodigy Luke Littler, urging the crowd to recognise and respect his extraordinary abilities after the 19‑year‑old has endured a series of boos at recent tournaments. The call came in the wake of Littler's attempt to defend his World Grand Prix crown on Monday in Leicester, where he suffered an early exit at the hands of Woodhouse, losing 2‑1 in a first‑round showdown. During that match, the world‑number‑one appeared off‑form, posting an average of just 82.41, while Woodhouse recovered from a set down to secure a place in the last‑16 against Nathan Aspinall.
After clinching the victory, Woodhouse turned his attention to Littler, praising the teenager for the way he has elevated the sport and urging fans to give him the backing he deserves. "Luke isn’t a machine; he’ll have days when his game isn’t at its peak," Woodhouse said. "People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again: he’s a one‑of‑a‑kind talent. I hope everyone takes a moment to truly appreciate how good he is and stops giving him a hard time.
Really, sit behind him and support him. You may never see another Luke Littler again." The backlash against Littler is not new. Earlier in September, during the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands, he faced boos and whistles from sections of the audience. The hostility began in his opening match against Danny Noppert and continued in his round‑of‑16 clash with Aspinall, prompting referee Charlie Corstorphine to step in and calm the crowd.
The 19‑year‑old even threatened to boycott Dutch events and subsequently withdrew from two Players Championship tournaments held there. His run in that event ended in the quarter‑finals where he was defeated by Jonny Clayton. When asked why the back‑to‑back PDC World Darts Championship winner was being treated harshly, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a reason. "I don’t know," he replied.
"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 a new level. I just hope people give him the support he merits and recognise his top‑class talent.
Yes, he wasn’t at his best tonight and he lost last week, but he will go on to win many more titles." Woodhouse’s own performance on Monday was a story of resilience. After dropping the first set, he fought back to level the match and then surged ahead in the third set.
He claimed the opening two legs, Littler answered by taking the third, and Woodhouse sealed the decisive leg to win the final set 3‑1, finishing with a checkout of 75. Reflecting on his win, Woodhouse described a mix of emotions. "It’s hard to sum up; I felt a blend of frustration and relief. I thought I’d thrown away the first set – not exactly thrown away, but I missed chances to push it to a deciding leg.
When I didn’t, I was angry with myself. I sensed Littler wasn’t firing on all cylinders, so I told myself not to let him lose two sets while he was off his game.
In the end, it was a huge relief and I’m over the moon to beat someone of Luke’s calibre on a main stage." He also highlighted how significant it is to defeat the world’s top‑ranked player, yet he remains hungry for more titles. "It’s fantastic," he said. "Luke is going to be remembered as one of the greats, if he isn’t already. I’m aware the format is short – you have to start strong, hit your doubles quickly – but winning tournaments is my ultimate goal." The tournament’s second round will unfold over Wednesday and Thursday, with quarter‑finals slated for Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.
Fans can catch the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the championship match. For those without a contract, streaming options are also available via NOW.