Luke Woodhouse has stepped up to defend the reputation of his fellow competitor, 19‑year‑old Luke Littler, urging fans to recognise the young player's extraordinary abilities after Littler endured a chorus 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 number one in a tightly contested 2‑1 match.
During the encounter, Littler’s performance fell short of his usual high standards, with an average of just 82.41. Woodhouse, after dropping the opening set, rallied to claim the next two, securing a place in the last‑16 where he will face Nathan Aspinall.
In reflecting on his victory, Woodhouse emphasized that Littler is far from a mechanical performer; he experiences off‑days like any athlete. "Luke isn’t a robot.
He’s going to have days and weeks when he’s not at his best," Woodhouse said, adding, "He’s a one‑of‑a‑kind, Luke Littler. I hope people will take the time to appreciate how good he is and really sit behind him.
You might never see another Luke Littler again." Littler’s recent run of negative reactions began at the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands, where he was booed and whistled by sections of the crowd during his opening match against Danny Noppert and again during his round‑of‑16 clash with Nathan Aspinall. The situation escalated to the point where referee Charlie Corstorphine had to intervene to calm the audience.
The 19‑year‑old even threatened to boycott future Dutch events and subsequently withdrew from two Players Championship tournaments in the country. His campaign eventually ended in the quarter‑finals when he was beaten by Jonny Clayton.
When asked why the reigning back‑to‑back PDC World Darts Championship champion was receiving such hostility, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a single cause. "I don’t know," he replied, before highlighting the significance of Littler’s contributions to the sport. "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. I just hope people get behind him, give him the support and appreciate what a top talent he is.
Yes, he wasn’t on his game tonight and last week he lost, but he’ll win many more titles." The match itself was a roller‑coaster. After losing the first set, Woodhouse fought back to level the match and then surged ahead in the third set, taking the first two legs. Littler answered by claiming the third leg, but Woodhouse clinched the final leg, sealing the deciding set 3‑1 with a finishing checkout of 75. "It’s very difficult to sum up; a mix of emotions," Woodhouse confessed.
"I thought I threw it away in the first set – well, not threw it away, but I had chances to take it to a deciding leg and when I didn’t, I was angry with myself. I felt he wasn’t flying on all gears, so I thought, ‘Please don’t go out and lose two sets when he’s not playing well.’ It’s a relief, and I’m over the moon to beat someone like Luke on a main stage." Woodhouse also stressed that defeating the world number one was a major milestone, yet he remains hungry for further success. "Yeah, it’s fantastic.
Luke is going to go down as one of the greats, if not already. I’m not naive about the short‑format nature of this event – you have to start strong, double in, double out quickly – but winning tournaments is what I’m here for." The tournament continues 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 watch day two of the World Grand Prix 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, streaming options are also available via NOW.
Woodhouse’s call for respect and backing of Littler underscores a broader conversation about sportsmanship, fan behavior, and the pressure placed on rising stars in professional darts. By highlighting Littler’s unique talent and urging the audience to support rather than disparage, Woodhouse hopes to foster a more positive environment that allows young prodigies to flourish without the weight of undue criticism.