Van Veen dismisses Littler’s opinions after fiery clash in Manchester
Gian van Veen has made it crystal clear he couldn’t care less what Luke Littler thinks of him after their fiery Premier League clash in Manchester on Thursday night, reports BritPanorama.
The World Darts Championship finalist branded the world champion a “bad loser” following their quarter-final encounter at the AO Arena, adding that Littler’s behaviour on stage was “out of order”.
Speaking to Swedish streaming service Viaplay, the world number three did not hold back regarding the situation. “I’m here for myself. He’s a fantastic darter, the world No 1, so what he does for the sport is great, but I care little about what he thinks of me,” Van Veen stated.
The match itself was a rollercoaster of tension and drama. Van Veen raced into a commanding 4-1 advantage, but Littler rallied to close the gap at 4-3 before the Dutchman regained his lead.
Things escalated during the deciding leg when Van Veen squandered a match dart at double 15, only to find Littler celebrating in front of the home crowd. The world champion then gestured angrily at his opponent as Van Veen returned to the oche. However, Littler’s own match dart at double seven missed its target, allowing Van Veen to clinch victory.
Littler made a crying gesture to the crowd before exchanging a brief handshake and exiting quickly. Later that evening, the 19-year-old took to Instagram to react to Van Veen’s comments, sharing three laughing emojis beneath his statement.
Van Veen expressed no surprise at Littler’s online response, stating, “No, we haven’t spoken. He hasn’t approached me either. I saw his reaction on social media. He thought it was funny.” The Dutchman acknowledged that the rivalry is unlikely to cool anytime soon, admitting, “Well, I don’t think things will be very friendly between us anytime soon.”
Van Veen had faced a challenging season before his victory, having not won a Premier League match since week four and recovering from kidney stones that kept him out of the Dublin event. In contrast, Littler had been riding high with recent wins in Dublin and Berlin, making his Manchester defeat particularly notable.
As it stands, the two players will not meet this weekend at the European Tour event in Munich, as Littler has decided not to enter the competition. Van Veen is set to face either William O’Connor or Sebastian Bialecki in Sunday’s second round.
The Premier League action resumes in Brighton next Thursday, where Littler takes on Stephen Bunting while Van Veen meets compatriot Michael van Gerwen. This encounter serves as a reminder of how rivalry can ignite passions on and off the oche, leaving fans eager for the next chapter in this contentious saga.
