Former world champ gives verdict on whether Littler will walk away after Dutch boos

MARK WEBSTER insists Luke Littler will NOT walk away from darts despite being “very upset” by the boos he received in Amsterdam.

The world No.1 was subjected to jeers and whistling throughout his World Series of Darts Finals campaign at the weekend.

Littler, 19, was targeted during his first-round clash with home favourite Danny Noppert before the referee was forced to pause his last-16 meeting with Nathan Aspinall in a bid to get the crowd under control.

The same treatment continued in his quarter-final loss against Jonny Clayton, with Littler sarcastically applauding the crowd after they celebrated him missing darts at double.

14-time major winner Littler has since suggested he could stop playing in the Netherlands as a result.

But Webster does not expect the controversy to see Littler turn his back on darts or derail his season.

He said: “No, I don’t think he is going to. Look, he was very upset with the way he was treated in the Netherlands on the weekend.

“Some of the opponents he played, a home favourite in Danny Noppert. He was going to get some rough treatment there.

“Nathan Aspinall is very popular, as is Jonny. I’m not saying it’s right. The whistling, I know they are trying to take it out the game.

“The booing they won’t be able to stop. But the whistling is something that is a bugbear to a lot of the players at the minute.

“They are trying to get rid of it. I spoke to a few security guys, they’re experimenting with stuff in the crowd.

“But obviously, it got on top of Luke at the weekend. If he chooses to skip events in the Netherlands, that is his prerogative.

“There is a Premier League [night] which I think he will play. The European Tour, there are fifteen events.

“He doesn’t really need to go to the Netherlands. So, he can cherry-pick there.

“So, if he does decide to boycott, he can still plan out his year.”

Former world champ Webster believes the PDC is already taking steps to tackle the whistling which has become a major frustration for players.

He added: “They work in conjunction with the security team. It’s their security, so I am assuming there is a lot of dialogue.

“They are trying to do things. Ideally, you catch the people that whistle, then you throw them out.

“You are talking about five thousand or ten thousand in a crowd, it is really hard to control them.

“But they are trying because you want the players to play in the best environment and produce the best darts.

“If they can combat this whistling, they will try, but I am led to believe it will be very difficult.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning