Luke Woodhouse recently appealed to darts enthusiasts to rally behind the young phenom Luke Littler and to truly recognize his abilities, after the 19‑year‑old has endured boos from spectators at several recent tournaments. Littler entered the World Grand Prix in Leicester on Monday with the aim of defending his title, but his campaign was halted early when Woodhouse defeated him 2‑1 in the opening round. The world number one did not appear to be at his peak during the encounter, posting an average of just 82.41, while Woodhouse recovered from a set down to secure a last‑16 match against Nathan Aspinall.
In reflecting on his win, Woodhouse made a heartfelt plea for fans to back Littler, praising the youngster for the way he has helped elevate the sport. "Luke isn’t a robot; he’ll have days and weeks when he’s not firing on all cylinders," Woodhouse said.
"People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again: he’s a one‑of‑a‑kind talent, Luke Littler. I hope people will take the time to appreciate how good he is, stop giving him a hard time, and really sit behind him.
You might never see another player like him again." The backlash against Littler is not new. Earlier in September, during the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands, sections of the crowd booed and whistled at him. He faced jeers in his opening match against Danny Noppert and again in his round‑of‑16 clash with Aspinall, prompting referee Charlie Corstorphine to step in and calm the audience.
The 19‑year‑old even threatened to boycott future events in the Netherlands and subsequently withdrew from two Players Championship tournaments held there. His run in that event ended in the quarter‑finals, where he was beaten by Jonny Clayton.
When asked why some fans seemed to target the back‑to‑back PDC World Darts Championship winner, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a reason. "I don’t know why they’re giving him a hard time," he said. "He’s done for the game what legends like Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson have done, and he’s taken it to the next level. I just hope people give him the support he deserves and recognize the top‑class talent he possesses.
Sure, he wasn’t on fire tonight and he lost last week, but he’ll go on to win many more titles." During the match on Monday, Woodhouse recovered from an early set loss to level the contest and then surged ahead in the third set. He claimed the first two legs, saw Littler answer back in the third, and then secured the decisive leg to clinch the final set 3‑1, finishing with a checkout of 75. "It’s hard to sum up – it’s a mix of emotions," Woodhouse said after the victory. "I thought I threw it away in the first set – well, not exactly threw it away, but I had chances to take it to a deciding leg and when I missed, I was angry with myself.
I felt Littler wasn’t playing at his best, so I thought, ‘Please don’t lose two sets when he’s off his game.’ That made the win a huge relief. I’m over the moon to beat someone like Luke on a main stage." Woodhouse added that defeating the world number one was a significant milestone, yet he remains hungry for more titles. "It’s fantastic," he said. "Luke is going to go down as one of the greats, if he isn’t already.
I’m not naive about the short format – you have to start strong, double in, double out quickly – but winning tournaments is what I’m here for." The tournament progresses to the second round on Wednesday and Thursday, with quarter‑finals slated for 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 continuing through the final. For those without a contract, the event can also be streamed via NOW. The broader message from Woodhouse is clear: Luke Littler’s talent is rare, his impact on darts is profound, and he deserves unwavering support from the darts community rather than the criticism that has marred recent appearances.