Luke Littler and Gian van Veen’s ongoing silence after Manchester confrontation
Luke Littler and Gian van Veen have maintained complete silence for three weeks following their heated confrontation in Manchester earlier this month, reports BritPanorama.
The tension erupted during a Premier League decider that went to the final leg, when the 19-year-old Littler celebrated after Van Veen failed to hit a match-winning dart. Littler subsequently missed his own opportunity to clinch victory, and the pair exchanged an icy handshake once the Dutchman secured the win.
Since that fractious encounter, the two young rivals have avoided each other entirely, even warming up in different practice areas backstage at Premier League events.
Speaking after his impressive nightly triumph in Liverpool on Thursday, Littler confirmed that no attempts have been made to clear the air between them. “We’ve not spoken but I’m not the type of person to go up and talk to him or something like that,” he said. The teenage sensation suggested Van Veen might be waiting for him to make the first move, but explained that initiating conversations simply isn’t in his nature.
“People talk to me first, I’m not the type of person to be chatting away,” Littler added. “We can settle it on the dartboard. I think he’s forgotten about it, I’ve forgotten about it.” An intriguing rivalry is developing between these two emerging talents in the sport.
While Van Veen emerged victorious from their Manchester confrontation, Littler had previously defeated him at January’s World Darts Championship final. The standings currently favour the English teenager, who occupies a comfortable position within the Premier League playoff places. Van Veen, meanwhile, finds himself in fifth spot with considerable ground to make up if he hopes to secure his place in the knockout stages.
Neither player has been drawn against the other in any of the three Premier League nights held since their Manchester dispute. Littler acknowledged the period following the incident had been challenging but insisted he has moved on. “It’s been a tough couple of weeks but I’ve just had to get on with it and play my darts,” he stated.
Despite Van Veen claiming that Littler was “out of order” during their match, while also stating he “loves Luke to bits,” the young Englishman remains unapologetic. “I don’t regret anything,” Littler asserted.
As both players navigate the complexities of rivalry and personal conflict, it remains to be seen how this relationship will evolve on the stage. In sport, it often takes just one compelling performance to remind us that the drama is never just limited to the scoreboard.
