Littler Falls to Bunting in Darts Quarterfinal Amid Boos

In Brighton, England, on Thursday night, 19-year-old darts prodigy Luke Littler suffered a 6-4 quarterfinal defeat to Stephen Bunting during Night 10 of the Premier League Darts, marking his second straight early exit amid a hostile crowd reaction tied to his recent on-stage dispute with Gian van Veen.

Littler, the two-time world champion from Warrington, entered the arena to widespread boos, a response stemming from his heated exchange with the Dutch player the previous week in Manchester. There, during a 6-5 loss to van Veen, Littler had raised his arms and gestured toward the crowd after van Veen missed a match dart at double 15, prompting the 23-year-old to turn in frustration. The incident escalated with Littler making a crying motion, leading to a frosty handshake and van Veen's public criticism, where he called the behavior unsporting. The spat spilled into social media, dividing fans and pundits, though both players have since downplayed long-term animosity.

On stage against Bunting, who celebrated his 41st birthday, Littler attempted to shrug off the jeers by cupping his ear and gesturing dismissively to spectators. However, his performance faltered from the start. He...