The Premier League Darts returns this evening, with Sky Sports pundit Mark Webster set for an awkward reunion with Luke Littler in Brighton. Littler made headlines last week after losing to Gian van Veen, having gestured towards the crowd when the Dutchman missed double 15 for the match.
“I don’t see what the problem was for Luke, and I think Gian conducted himself really well. Gian naturally turned around in disappointment after missing the match dart and Luke was just geeing up the crowd.
“I think Gian took a bit of reservation to that but I don’t think there was any need for the sort of reaction after [from Littler]. Gian composed himself well to get it together, and Luke’s just got to refocus this week.”
Meanwhile, darts referee Huw Ware reckons there won’t be a repeat of the conflict. “From my perspective, I didn’t really know what had happened until I got off the stage,” he said. “I was looking at the dart board. The first thing I saw was after Gian took his darts out and Luke was geeing up the crowd and I thought, ‘Oh, he’s geeing up the crowd, there we are.’
“I hadn’t realised what had gone on between them. I couldn’t see that anyway. It wasn’t anything for me to get involved with, no. Not really. Everything was fine. They were both very professional in the sense that they both shook hands.”
It wasn’t the first time ‘The Nuke’ played up to the crowd, and he could face a hostile reception on night 10 of the Premier League darts on the south coast. Littler meets Stephen Bunting in the opening round, and Webster believes it will be far from plain sailing.
“He’ll get a little bit of a hard time from the crowd because it’s fresh in their memory and he’s playing a fan’s favourite in Stephen Bunting,” Webster added. “This could be a tricky assignment for Luke Littler. He’ll want to prove a point. He likes to hit back at the crowd if they’re having a go at him.
“I’m not saying it’s a perfect environment for him, but it’s not something that bothers him. You’re going to get a reaction and he’ll put in a brilliant display.”