Luke Littler responds to Gian van Veen’s allegations after Premier League Darts clash
Luke Littler has taken to social media to hit back at Gian van Veen following their fiery encounter during night nine of the Premier League Darts at Manchester’s AO Arena on Thursday evening, reports BritPanorama.
The 19-year-old world number one suffered a narrow 6-5 defeat to his Dutch rival, ending his hopes of claiming a third consecutive Premier League victory. Both players appeared visibly frustrated with one another’s behaviour as tensions escalated towards the conclusion of their closely fought contest.
The incident has sparked significant backlash online, with the war of words between the two competitors spilling onto Instagram. In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Van Veen detailed what had triggered the confrontation, stating, “I’m on 90, I miss double 15 on the inside, and then I see him celebrating towards the crowd. I don’t think that’s normal. And then he also makes that crying gesture.”
While acknowledging Littler’s exceptional talent, the 23-year-old Dutchman expressed disappointment with his conduct during the match. “He’s a fantastic darts player, but today he showed he’s not a good loser. Celebrating a miss from your opponent, that really annoys me,” Van Veen said. He was particularly vexed by Littler’s reaction to his missed attempts, as he noted, “The fact he then misses three darts at a double, that’s his problem.”
Despite the clash, Van Veen expressed admiration for his rival, stating, “I love Luke to bits. All the attention he has brought to the sport is phenomenal, but today was my day.” Littler, however, was quick to respond, posting two messages on his Instagram story. His first post showcased his career achievements with the caption, “Goodnight god bless thank you Manchester,” followed by a screenshot of Van Veen’s comments accompanied by three laughing emojis.
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle offered insight into the incident, suggesting he could read Littler’s lips and understood the exchange but refrained from disclosing the specifics. He concluded by noting that Van Veen displayed more appropriate conduct, remarking, “He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He won’t be doing that again!”
The skirmish exemplifies how even in sport, rivals can find themselves at odds, both on and off the stage, reflecting the fierce competitive spirit that drives players like Littler and Van Veen.
