Luke Littler warned about 'WWE antics' after boos and clash with rival

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Luke Littler has been warned that his prickly darts personality will encourage the boo boys even more. The World No. 1 is back in Premier League action this evening, when he faces Gerwyn Price in Rotterdam.

He could find himself on the end of a tidal wave of jeers after his falling out with Dutch favourite Gian van Veen in Manchester. In the deciding leg, Van Veen felt Littler was celebrating after he missed double 15 by finishing inside.

The 19-year-old then responded by shouting at Van Veen after he turned his back, before rallying the Manchester crowd to raise their noise, only to miss three darts at a double himself. After Van Veen hit double six to win the match, Littler shook his hand and sarcastically told him "well done" before storming off the stage.

A fortnight after that incident, darts pundit Michael Bridge told the Love the Darts Podcast: "I just, it’s difficult because obviously he likes the WWE pantomime style in terms of it. I don’t think there’s any problem with needle whatsoever.

"I think, you know, Gian is a very nice, mild-mannered guy, and I think that probably didn’t help in terms of Luke. I’d say 99.9 per cent of those people booing him, if they see him outside, will want a picture and will want that signed. It’s just, it did affect him.

"There’s no doubt about it. You look at that average, and he couldn’t wait to get out of there. That’s it. And that would probably be my concern going forward, how much it’s going to happen and how much it could affect him.

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"I think he just needs to go home, and I think he has done that. He’s a real family man, real family lad. The people he’s close with, he’s incredibly close with. It’s just, you know, it’s difficult because with darts, it’s never-ending — exhibition, darts, exhibition, darts. You don’t give yourself time to breathe.

"But unfortunately, you are in the spotlight now. You are the number one. You’re beyond a top dart player. You’re a top sports person. You’re going to be invited to the Brits and this and that. You are number one.

"But remember, you’re there for a reason, because you’ve been incredibly good at darts and you’ve been incredibly good for the sport. And I just hope he doesn’t throw it away by going too far. I just don’t want it to spiral out of control, basically.”

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Littler has not been averse to a fallout with a fellow professional or with the Darts fans themselves. He famously has a torrid relationship with German darts supporters, whose boisterous and partisan antics have got under his skin.

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