It wasn’t the night Luke Littler had hoped for at Premier League Darts night three.
The 18-year-old, who has quickly become a fan favorite, found himself facing not only the skill of Gerwyn Price but also a hostile Dublin crowd.
Price claimed victory with a 6-4 win in the quarter-finals, making it five straight defeats for Littler against the Welshman.
A Tough Match for Littler
In what turned into a difficult contest, Gerwyn Price finished the match with a solid average of 102.64, including five 180s.
Despite his impressive performance, it was clear that Littler was struggling with the atmosphere.
The crowd’s boos and whistles added an extra layer of tension to the match, and Littler wasn’t shy about expressing his frustration.
After hitting a crucial double 14 to narrow the gap, he gestured to the crowd to calm down, even making a flicking motion that was a rare show of emotion from the usually composed teenager.
Littler’s Frustration With the Crowd
After the match ended in defeat, Littler stormed off the stage, throwing his darts case to the floor in a clear sign of frustration.
He didn’t hold back in addressing the issue of whistling during his matches, a behavior that has bothered him for some time.
Littler had spoken about the whistling before the event, but this time, the negative atmosphere seemed to affect him more than usual.
Is There a Place for Whistling in Darts?
Littler made it clear that he believes whistling has no place in darts, but he also acknowledged that players are unlikely to walk off the stage because of it.
Reflecting on his recent Premier League win in Glasgow, where he had been whistled while his opponents threw crucial darts, Littler shared his thoughts on the matter.
“For us players, probably not [walking off stage],” he said.
“I wouldn’t want it to happen to anyone, but if that was the worst case, then I’m sure a player has the right to walk off stage… maybe, or maybe not.”
What Can Be Done About It?
Littler suggested that if a player were to walk off due to crowd behavior, security would need to step in and remove the troublemakers.
“Just kick them out,” he said.
He made it clear that whistling against any player, whether it’s him or his opponent, is a negative element in the sport.
He pointed to a recent example where Rob Cross missed two crucial double 18s after being whistled by the crowd.
“You can say it was the crowd’s fault that he missed those doubles,” Littler explained.
Despite the challenges, Littler emphasized the importance of focusing on the game.
“We just have to get on with our job. If the fans are whistling against our opponents, then it’ll certainly help us.”
Looking Ahead
As Littler moves forward, the young star is determined to not let the distractions of hostile crowds affect his performance.
While whistling may continue to be an issue, he remains focused on his journey in darts.