Luke Woodhouse has publicly appealed to darts fans to rally behind the young phenom Luke Littler and to truly recognise his skill, after the 19‑year‑old has endured boos from sections of the crowd at recent tournaments. Littler entered the World Grand Prix in Leicester with the aim of defending his title, but his campaign was halted in the opening round when Woodhouse edged him 2‑1. The world‑number‑one did not look 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 clash with Nathan Aspinall.
After clinching the win, Woodhouse took the microphone to champion Littler, praising the way he has lifted the profile of darts. "Luke isn’t a robot; he’ll have days when his game isn’t razor‑sharp," Woodhouse said.
"People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again: he’s a one‑of‑a‑kind talent. I hope the crowd will take a moment to appreciate how good he is, stop giving him a hard time, and truly stand behind him. You may never see another Luke Littler again." The call for empathy comes after a string of hostile reactions aimed at Littler earlier this year.
At the World Series of Darts Finals in the Netherlands, sections of the audience booed and whistled at him during his opening match against Danny Noppert and again in his round‑of‑16 showdown with Aspinall, prompting referee Charlie Corstorphine to intervene and calm the spectators. The young champion even threatened to boycott Dutch events and subsequently withdrew from two Players Championship tournaments held there, before eventually bowing out in the quarter‑finals to Jonny Clayton. When asked why some fans seem to target the back‑to‑back PDC World Darts Championship winner, Woodhouse admitted he could not pinpoint a 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 explained. "I just hope people give him the support he deserves and recognise his top‑class talent.
Yes, he missed a few chances this week and lost a match, but he will go on to win many more titles." During the Monday night match, Woodhouse recovered from an early set loss, leveling the contest before launching into a dominant third set. He captured the first two legs, Littler responded in the third, but Woodhouse sealed the decisive leg to claim the final set 3‑1, finishing with a clean checkout of 75. Reflecting on his triumph, Woodhouse described his emotions as a "mix of feelings". He confessed he felt he had nearly squandered the first set, missing opportunities that could have forced a deciding leg, and expressed frustration with himself.
"I thought Littler wasn’t firing on all cylinders, so I told myself not to let him win two sets when he’s off his game. It was a huge relief when I turned it around," he said, adding, "I’m over the moon to beat someone of Luke’s calibre on a main stage." Woodhouse also highlighted that defeating the world’s top‑ranked player is a significant milestone, yet he remains hungry for more titles.
"It’s fantastic," he said. "Luke will go down as one of the greats, if he isn’t already. I know the format is short and you have to start strong, hitting 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.
Viewers 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 Sky subscription, the event can also be streamed on NOW with a flexible, contract‑free option.