"Don’t pick a fight with the crowd" – Paulke and Hempel criticise Luke Littler’s treatment of the fans
PDCFriday, 25 September 2026 at 20:00
Luke Littler’s clash with the crowd at the World Series of Darts Finals continues to stir debate across the darts world. On the “Game On” podcast, Elmar Paulke and Florian Hempel discussed in depth the Englishman’s responses to the fans in Amsterdam. Both felt his handling of the spectators was wrong. They stressed, however, that Littler’s sporting class and his importance to darts are beyond dispute.
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Hempel began by asking whether Littler should pick a fight with the crowd early at a Major. Paulke’s answer was unequivocal: “That was a cardinal error.” Littler could be annoyed by the atmosphere and address it afterwards. But repeatedly dragging the conflict onto the stage during the event, Paulke argued, was a mistake.
Paulke did not perceive the mood at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam as unusually unfair either. “I didn’t find the crowd unfair in Amsterdam; they were just normally loud,” he said.
There were also boos for Littler. “That’s how it is as the world number one: as the best, you polarise.” For Paulke, those reactions did not justify Littler’s repeated run-ins with the fans.
Paulke recalls the Noppert incident
Paulke particularly remembered Littler’s opener against Danny Noppert. The Dutchman at one stage led 3–1, even though, in Paulke’s view, he hadn’t settled well. Littler, by contrast, struggled on the doubles from the start.
Then came a moment Paulke found notable: Noppert celebrated a visit and clenched his fist close to Littler. He then appeared to want to apologise for the gesture. But, according to Paulke’s observation, Littler wouldn’t let him approach. “That’s when I thought: Hey, what a character,” Paulke said of Littler’s reaction. He felt the incident lingered with Noppert, while Littler fought his way back and won.
Luke Littler did beat Danny Noppert at the World Series of Darts Finals but later fell to Jonny Clayton
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Afterwards, however, Paulke missed Littler’s usual energy. In the following matches, Littler seemed unusually calm and low on emotion. “That wasn’t Luke Littler at his best,” he said. The row with the crowd was therefore also a factor for Paulke regarding Littler’s focus.
Hempel, in this context, recalled Littler’s later match against Jonny Clayton. When the Englishman missed doubles several times late on, he turned to the spectators again. Hempel found it difficult to blame them across the board. The arena might have been louder than it sounded at the commentary position. But, in his view, the reactions were not unusually intense.
“The crowd is still the crowd”
Hempel pushed back especially against the idea that spectators must behave identically on every visit. “The crowd is still the crowd and wants to party, wants to enjoy the evening,” he said on the podcast. From his perspective, it is only natural that Dutch fans back their own players.
Hempel distinguished between a lively atmosphere and targeted disruption. Isolated whistles, boos, or audible reactions on darts at double can happen. “Isolated whistles that do interfere, the really unfair stuff we’ve already seen – I exclude that. That’s not on,” he made clear. What he perceived in Amsterdam mostly did not fall into that category.
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He therefore felt it was wrong for Littler to keep confronting the fans. “The best thing is to silence the crowd, definitely. But don’t pick a fight with the crowd,” he said. Spectators had paid for their tickets and wanted a night out. As long as their reactions stayed within bounds, a player had to handle it.
Paulke also did not see Littler as the only target. Ross Smith was booed in his match against Gian van Veen. Gerwyn Price and James Wade know hostile reactions as well. Precisely for that reason, Paulke was irritated that Littler made his Amsterdam experience such a big talking point.
Hempel on his own experience in Salzburg
Hempel spoke about a match against Mensur Suljović in Salzburg. He was booed heavily from the walk-on. “It was incredibly uncomfortable when 1,500 behind you are whistling,” he said. He still didn’t complain because he knew many Austrians wanted to support Suljović.
For Hempel, it is part of a darts pro’s job to play under such conditions. “Face your challenge,” he urged. Littler is also good enough to flip the mood with heavy scoring. With his 180s and big moments, he can often win the crowd over anyway.
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Paulke also criticised Littler’s suggestion that he might skip European Tour events in the Netherlands and Germany. The Englishman still travels to these countries for awards ceremonies, Paulke noted on “Game On.” He found it contradictory to accept the honours yet question tournaments because of fan reactions: “I can’t just keep cherry-picking.”
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For all the criticism, Paulke did not want to reduce Littler to the dispute. “He is so good for the sport,” he said. The Englishman is shaping darts and producing superb performances. That is exactly why the conflicts annoy Paulke: “He doesn’t need this at all.” Public spats do him no favours.
Behind the debate lies an exceptional record. Before his exit in Amsterdam, Littler had won 38 consecutive matches at Majors. Paulke and Hempel do not doubt his class. Their criticism is aimed at how he reacted to the fans – and at the fact he kept the row going during the tournament.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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- Great article - but not written by this site. It's taken wholesale from last Sunday's Observer with this interview published online on Saturday.Scoobedybop22-09-2026
- Such sad and pathetic little losers giving abuse to young woman for any reason, let alone who she is in a relationship with. Go Beau! An absolute star and comes across as a genuinely nice and kind person. Wish her nothing but the best.BandB22-09-2026
- I wouldn't mind if he quit now to be honest. He's not bigger than darts. Let's face it without darts he'd just be a normal fat gamer kid.medinabello22-09-2026
- You know,I said this,in a sentence,not 5 paragraphs!!rick6721-09-2026
- Oh dear,he lost. Well any competitive sport runs the risk of defeat. He is, currently,his own worst enemy. Wind the crowd up,and you get it back bigger. Put your dummy in kidrick6721-09-2026
- Does an exhibition count in the clean sweep though?BandB21-09-2026
- Played great in the final. Makes a mockery of the event when he qualified by losing all of his tour matchesBandB21-09-2026
- He isn't,and won't be the last player to get whistled or booed at. The problem I noticed,is that he winds them up,and give him back,and he doesn't like it. If you can't take it,don't give itrick6720-09-2026
- I hope Phil doesn't return. Watching him the seniors was embarrassing,and he should bow out,and let everyone remember what a legend he is.rick6716-09-2026
- What a nice comment by Wade. Top bloke.BandB15-09-2026
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