Littler and Van Veen maintain distance ahead of Premier League Darts
Luke Littler and Gian van Veen opted to warm up in different practice areas ahead of Premier League Darts Night 10 in Brighton, keeping their distance following last week’s heated exchange in Manchester, reports BritPanorama.
The 19-year-old world number one and his Dutch rival had clashed during a tense final leg decider where both missed crucial match darts. The confrontation saw Littler seemingly celebrate when Van Veen failed to hit his checkout, before rallying the home supporters behind him.
The incident sparked scrutiny regarding Littler’s on-stage conduct, leading to significant criticism from observers. As the teenagers prepared for their next encounter, Littler faced booing from the Brighton crowd, which seemed to exacerbate the pressure on his performance.
New league leader Jonny Clayton addressed the separate warm-up arrangements after the Brighton event, dismissing any suggestion of deliberate avoidance. “Yeah, they’re always in separate practice rooms really,” Clayton explained. “If there’s two rooms, then myself, Mike [Van Gerwen], and Luke [Humphries] are in one and Gian comes into that. I don’t think anything of it, it’s just the way it happens.”
Despite his preparation routine, which included a unique blend of practice and pre-match rituals, Littler struggled significantly. He recorded an average of just 83.94 as he fell 6-4 to Stephen Bunting, marking the poorest televised PDC performance of his career.
Darts pundit Wayne Mardle attributed Littler’s subdued display to the previous week’s events, stating, “I’m assuming tonight was a reaction to last week, although I don’t know.” This sentiment reflects the mounting pressures that come with high-stakes competition, particularly among the younger players.
Although Van Veen also faced an early exit, losing 6-4 to eventual runner-up Michael van Gerwen with a better average of 94.49, both players left Brighton with lessons learned. As the Premier League season progresses, observers will undoubtedly continue to monitor how these experiences shape their trajectories in the sport.
This week’s events serve as a reminder of how the personal and professional often intertwine in the world of darts, illustrating that even the most promising talents can stumble under pressure.
