Luke Litter sided with Michael van Gerwen during their Premier League clash despite their war of words with the teenager urging the crowd to ease off the Dutchman
Littler reacted urged the crowd not to boo Michael van Gerwen as the Dutchman stepped up to deliver his telling blow during their clash on Thursday night.
The newly crowned world champion went out in the opening round of the first night of the Premier League Darts – losing to the man he beat at Alexandra Palace last month.
The teenage sensation posted an astonishing average of 113.91 – the second-highest losing average in the 21-year history of the Premier League. Littler had the chance to win the game but narrowly missed the treble 19 he needed to then set up a bullseye checkout.
It presented Van Gerwen with the chance to finish off the encounter, but the crowd began booing in an effort to put him off his stride. Littler wagged his finger at the crowd telling them not to jeer the 35-year-old.
He could have easily let the crowd go after the Dutchman. Earlier in the week Van Gerwen had taken aim at Littler for turning up 45 minutes late to a Premier League Darts photoshoot.
He said: “They need to stop treating him as a baby. He’s not a baby anymore, he’s 18 years old. It happens. He has to learn. You have to learn the hard way. It’s a professional sport so you have to be responsible for your actions, simple as that. If he turns up late for an interview, I don’t really mind. But seven other people were waiting for him, that’s not really nice. But it is what it is.”
Littler responded ahead of his match with Van Gerwen and said: “I always let my darts do the talking. But he [Van Gerwen] is not wrong. I was late. I’m 18 now and I’m responsible for my actions and I did get a little telling off.”
Littler may have lost his Premier League opener but Luke Humphries, who was the world champion before Littler, insists the teenager is still the man to beat. He told Sky Sports : “Littler, the way he’s playing is unbelievable. You’re watching that game against Van Gerwen and you will be very lucky for anyone to match another game like that.
“He’s by far one of the greatest darts players I’ve seen in my career. I’m not disrespecting myself, but I think he’s the best player in the world. If he goes out, I’m the one to beat but he’s definitely the man to beat. He plays darts at such a great pace. He smashes in the trebles and doubles.
“This is what happened to me last year. There’s a target on your back, everyone wants to beat you. You average over 100 and people beat you.”