LITTLER WARNED OVER FAN BACKLASH
03/07/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
LUKE LITTLER has been warned that growing hostility from fans outside the UK could seriously harm his promising darts career.
‘The Nuke’ was heavily booed at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt before suffering a shock at the hands of Germany to exit the tournament in the second round.
World No. 2 Littler was heckled during a Premier League’s visit to Berlin earlier this year and received a negative reception in Hildesheim on the European Tour.
Former pro Vincent van der Voort expressed concern over the way Littler is being jeered by fans abroad after witnessing it at the US Darts Masters in New York last weekend.
He said: “It’s becoming a real issue, especially when you consider how long his career could be.
“He was getting booed a lot in Germany at first, but now it’s spreading. I was in New York last weekend and even there, the crowd was giving him a hard time.”
Five-times major winner Littler reached the quarter-final of the US Masters but was knocked out by Nathan Aspinall despite averaging 109 and thumping in six 180s.
Van der Voort recalls Littler looking frustrated after the World Series event due to the heckling he faced from the Madison Square Garden crowd.
He added: “He wasn’t happy at all. The truth is, he’s only really popular in England – and not even everywhere there. Outside of the UK, he’s getting booed pretty much everywhere now, including in the US.
“There’s got to be a shift. You don’t want to be travelling from tournament to tournament and feel like no one’s behind you. That’s draining, especially at his age.”
Teen sensation Littler sealed a 6-1 win against Jules van Dongen in round one at the Big Apple with a spectacular 120 checkout, hitting three tops.
Van der Voort pointed to Littler’s on-stage showmanship and off-stage comments as reasons for the growing backlash.
He admitted: “It’s the things he says and the way he carries himself. They’re not helping his cause.
“You can turn people against you quickly in this sport if you’re not careful.”
The Dutchman stressed the importance of Littler having the right support system.
He explained: “It’s unfortunate he doesn’t seem to have the right people around him — people who can guide him, help him make better decisions, and teach him what’s smart and what isn’t.
“That’s crucial at this stage. When you’re 18, you think you know it all. But you don’t. Later in life, you realise your parents were right about a lot more than you gave them credit for.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
