“Feel like they don’t like each other at all”: Luke Littler’s feud with Gian van Veen far from over

Luke Littler versus Gian van Veen – on sporting grounds, this duel could become one of the defining matchups of the coming years. The two World Championship finalists now occupy the top two spots in the world rankings and, despite their young age, have long belonged to the absolute elite. But between the world number one and number two there is also a backstory that goes beyond the purely sporting.

On Night Nine of the Premier League Darts in early April in Manchester, Littler and van Veen clashed on stage. In the deciding leg, the Dutchman missed his first match dart at 90 left on double 15. Knowing he would not get another attempt at a double in that visit, van Veen turned in frustration toward his entourage in the crowd – and saw Littler react to the miss and whip up the audience. Van Veen responded with a critical look, while Littler waved him off in demonstrative fashion. Shortly after, the Englishman missed two match darts himself and added a “crybaby” gesture toward his opponent. Van Veen eventually checked out on double 6 to win, and the ensuing handshake was correspondingly cold.

In the latest episode of the podcast Darts auf die 1, this scene resurfaced as a topic. The starting point, however, was initially the heated incident between Kim Huybrechts and James Hurrell at Players Championship 25 in Hildesheim, when both engaged in a fiery war of words after their match. For Robert Marijanovic, such emotions are by no means a fundamental problem – rather, in his view, they can give a match exactly what makes it memorable in the long term.

As an example, Marijanovic recalled the charged World Championship clash between Gerwyn Price and Kim Huybrechts in 2021. “That’s why I thought that game a few years ago at the Worlds, Price against Huybrechts, when there were a few disagreements, was absolutely wild. I think Price accidentally stood on his foot. And Huybrechts went completely like: ‘Look what he’s doing, poor me!’ But that thing was great, it had tension, it had drive. Honestly, those are the games I want to see. Who cares if someone steps out of line now and then, everyone does it, that’s how it is. But that’s sport, that’s brilliant.”

For the two-time World Championship participant, it is precisely these encounters that stick with fans. “Those are the stories we remember. And not the ones where players always bowed to their opponents.”

It also stands out that certain pros are particularly often part of such stories. “When we talk about these situations, it’s always the same names that come up. Adrian Lewis was involved in things like that again and again for over a decade. Kim Huybrechts is always there, Gerwyn Price is always there. But those are the names we will remember forever. Even if some of them never became world champion – that’s the spice.”

Marijanovic even went a step further with Price: “I said years ago: I believe darts needs Gerwyn Price more than Gerwyn Price needs darts.”

From the well-known lightning rods of past and present, the discussion finally circled back to two players whose rivalry may be only just beginning: Luke Littler and Gian van Veen.

“One story is going to flare up again, by the way: Gian van Veen and Luke Littler,” predicted Marijanovic. “This feud isn’t over yet.”

Marcel Althaus shared that impression: “I also feel like they don’t like each other at all.”

For Marijanovic, that means the matter is far from settled. He is convinced that Littler has not forgotten the scene from Manchester. “It’s not over yet, it’s going to escalate. I’m pretty sure of that. Luke Littler is like an elephant: he remembers everything.”

As evidence, Marijanovic recalled an incident between Littler and Krzysztof Ratajski on the European Tour. The Pole had accidentally drunk from Littler’s glass – a small thing that apparently stuck in the Englishman’s mind.

“Do you remember that scene when Krzysztof Ratajski accidentally drank from his glass at the European Tour? Littler didn’t like that at all. Three months later they play each other again on the European Tour and Littler puts his glass under the table.”

For Marijanovic, it is therefore certain that the next chapter between the two top-ranked players in the world is likely to be written as well. He links his prediction with a wink: “Littler is waiting for Gian van Veen. I can promise you that. He’s waiting for him – probably with a 117 average.”