Luke Woodhouse has publicly appealed to darts enthusiasts to rally behind the prodigious Luke Littler, urging the crowd to recognise and celebrate the young player's extraordinary abilities. The 19‑year‑old, who has recently endured a series of boos and jeers from sections of the audience, was defending his World Grand Prix title in Leicester on Monday when he faced Woodhouse in the opening round. Despite a valiant effort, Littler fell 2‑1 to Woodhouse, who progressed to a last‑16 clash with Nathan Aspinall. The match statistics reflected a sub‑par performance from the world No.1, who averaged just 82.41 points per three darts, a figure well below his usual standard.
Woodhouse, however, demonstrated resilience, overturning a set deficit to secure his place in the next round. In the aftermath of his victory, Woodhouse took the opportunity to speak out in defence of Littler, praising the teenager for the way he has elevated the sport and calling him "one‑of‑a‑kind." "Luke isn’t a robot; he has days when his game isn’t at its peak," Woodhouse said. "People keep telling me this, and I’ll say it again: he’s a unique talent, Luke Littler.
I hope fans will take the time to truly appreciate how good he is and stop giving him a hard time. Sit behind him, support him. You may never see another player like him again." Littler’s recent experiences have not been limited to this defeat. Earlier in September, during the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands, he was met with boos and whistles from portions of the crowd.
The hostility began in his opening match against Danny Noppert and continued into his round‑of‑16 encounter with Aspinall, where referee Charlie Corstorphine had to intervene to calm the spectators. The 19‑year‑old even threatened to boycott future Dutch events and subsequently withdrew from two Players Championship tournaments held in the country. His run at that event ultimately ended in the quarter‑finals, where he was beaten by Jonny Clayton.
When asked why the reigning back‑to‑back PDC World Darts Championship champion was receiving such negative treatment, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a single reason. "I don’t know why some fans are giving him a hard time," he said. He went on to compare Littler’s impact on darts to that of legends such as Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson, stating that Littler has taken the game to a new level.
"I just hope people back him, give him the support he deserves, and recognise the top‑class talent he possesses," Woodhouse added. "Sure, he wasn’t at his best tonight and he lost last week, but he will win many more titles in the future." Woodhouse’s own performance on Monday night was a study in perseverance.
After dropping the first set, he fought back to level the match and then surged ahead in the third set, taking the first two legs before Littler managed to claim the third. Woodhouse clinched the decisive leg of the final set 3‑1, finishing with a clean checkout of 75.
Reflecting on the win, he described his emotions as a "mix of feelings," noting that he felt he had almost let the first set slip away. "I had chances to push the first set to a deciding leg, and when I didn’t, I was angry with myself," he confessed. "I sensed Luke wasn’t playing at his best, so I thought, ‘Please don’t lose two sets when he’s off his game.’ In the end, it was a huge relief and I’m over the moon to beat someone of his calibre on a main stage." Woodhouse also highlighted the significance of defeating the world No.1, calling it a major achievement while emphasizing his continued hunger for titles.
"It’s fantastic," he said. "Luke is already on his way to being regarded as one of the greats, if not already. I’m aware the format is short, so you have to start strong, hit your doubles quickly, and stay focused.
Winning tournaments is what I’m here for." The tournament schedule 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 extending through to the championship match on Sunday.
For those without a contract, streaming options are available via NOW. Woodhouse’s plea for respect and encouragement for Littler underscores a broader conversation within darts about how emerging stars are received by the audience, and it serves as a reminder that even the most gifted players deserve a supportive environment to flourish.