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Luke Littler Considers Dutch Tournament Boycott After Crowd Booing

By Drooid · · How we work

Core Event – Threatened Withdrawal from Dutch Events

During the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, 19-year-old world champion Luke Littler was repeatedly booed and whistled at. The referee halted his round-of-16 match against Nathan Aspinall to warn the crowd before play resumed.

Background & Context – Rapid Rise and Prior Fan Hostility

Littler has captured almost every major televised darts trophy at age 19, becoming a multi-millionaire with sponsorship deals and his own TV show. Earlier in the same weekend he was booed after defeating Dutch favourite Danny Noppert, and he has previously faced similar treatment in Germany, prompting him to skip European Tour stops there. He was also booed after a win over Rob Cross at the PDC World Championship in December.

Official Statements & Responses – Littler’s Position and Editorial Concern

Littler told Online Darts that he is “100 %” prepared to avoid Dutch events, echoing his earlier decision to stay away from German tournaments until the atmosphere improves. He emphasized his desire simply to play darts and sign autographs, noting that he has walked off stage without thanking audiences when they booed. Dartnews.com editor Samuel Gill warned that continued fan hostility could lead Littler to abandon the sport within a few years.

Verbatim Quotes

  • “There's a real fear that within a few years he'll just turn around and walk away from the sport,” — Netherlands. But Samuel Gill, editor of Dartnews
  • “Just no point in me travelling, wasting my time while I'm getting booed,” — Luke Littler, world champion

What’s Next – Potential Impact on Future Tours

Littler is slated to appear at the European Championship in Dortmund in October. His stated intention to skip Dutch Euro-tour stops could affect the lineup of upcoming PDC events in the Netherlands, depending on whether crowd behaviour changes.