Luke Woodhouse has publicly appealed to darts enthusiasts to rally behind the prodigious Luke Littler, urging them to recognise and value the young player's extraordinary abilities. The call comes after the 19‑year‑old has endured a series of boos and jeers from sections of the crowd at recent tournaments. Littler entered the World Grand Prix in Leicester on Monday with the aim of defending his title, but his campaign was abruptly halted when he fell to Woodhouse in the opening round, losing 2‑1. The world number one appeared off‑form during the encounter, posting an average of just 82.41, while Woodhouse recovered from an early set deficit to secure a last‑16 clash with Nathan Aspinall.
Reflecting on his triumph, Woodhouse took the opportunity to champion Littler, praising the teenager for the way he has elevated the sport. "Luke isn’t a robot – he’ll have days and weeks when he’s not firing on all cylinders," Woodhouse explained. "People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again: he’s a one‑of‑a‑kind talent. I hope fans will take a moment to appreciate how good he is and stop giving him a hard time.
Really, sit behind him and support him. You might never see another Luke Littler again." Earlier in September, Littler faced a hostile reception at the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands. The young star was booed during his opening match against Danny Noppert and again during his round‑of‑16 showdown with Aspinall, prompting referee Charlie Corstorphine to intervene and calm the crowd. The negativity escalated to the point where Littler threatened to boycott events in the Netherlands and subsequently withdrew from two Players Championship tournaments held there.
He eventually bowed out of the Dutch event in the quarter‑finals, losing to Jonny Clayton. When asked why some spectators appear to target the back‑to‑back PDC World Darts Championship winner, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a single reason.
"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," Woodhouse said. "I just hope people give him the support he deserves and recognise the top‑class talent he possesses.
Yes, he wasn’t at his best tonight, and he lost last week, but he will go on to win many more titles." During the match on Monday night, Woodhouse recovered from a first‑set loss to level the contest, then launched an aggressive start in the decisive third set. He claimed the first two legs, saw Littler respond with a leg of his own, and ultimately clinched the final leg to seal a 3‑1 victory, finishing with a 75 checkout.
"It’s hard to sum up – a mix of emotions," Woodhouse admitted after the win. "I thought I threw it away in the first set – well, not completely, but I had chances to push it to a deciding leg and when I didn’t, I was angry with myself. I felt Littler wasn’t firing on all gears, so I thought, ‘Please don’t lose two sets when you’re not at your best.’ It was a huge relief when I turned it around. I’m over the moon to beat someone like Luke on a main stage." Woodhouse also stressed that defeating the world number one is a significant milestone, yet he remains hungry for further success.
"It’s fantastic," he said. "Luke is going to go down as one of the greats, if he isn’t already. I’m not naïve about the short‑format nature of this event – you have to start strong, double in and 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 continuous coverage through to the championship match on Sunday. For those without a contract, streaming options are also available via NOW.