Littler Wins Liverpool Darts Night Amid Fan Boos

Luke Littler overcame a barrage of boos from the Liverpool crowd to claim victory on Night 12 of the 2026 Premier League Darts at the MS Bank Arena on April 23. The 19-year-old back-to-back world champion defeated Luke Humphries 6-2 in the quarterfinals, rallied past Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the semifinals, and sealed the nightly title with a 6-1 win over Jonny Clayton in the final, marking his third triumph of the season.

The hostile reception stemmed from Littler's outspoken support for Manchester United, Liverpool's fierce rivals, which has long drawn jeers in the city. Tensions escalated in recent weeks following a heated exchange with Dutch player Gian van Veen during Night 9 in Manchester. After Van Veen missed a match dart in their contest, Littler made a celebratory gesture toward the crowd, prompting Van Veen to accuse him of unsportsmanlike behavior, including a "cry baby" sign. Littler dismissed the criticism on social media, further polarizing fans. This incident, combined with earlier crowd friction at the 2026 World Championship and a defiant reception in Rotterdam the previous week, amplified the antagonism in Liverpool.

Littler remained composed throughout the...