"He just didn’t fancy it" - Luke Littler's disappointing showing in Berlin sparks debate

Luke Littler suffered a surprise early exit last Thursday on Night Nine of the Premier League Darts in Berlin, falling at the quarter-final stage to Chris Dobey. And while the defeat itself raised eyebrows, some are pointing to the Berlin crowd as a key factor in the result.

The shock loss was a hot topic on the latest episode of the podcast Darts Draait Door, where former pro Vincent van der Voort didn’t hold back in his assessment.

“He had one of those nights where he just didn’t fancy it,” Van der Voort said. “But with him, you never know. Last time he looked the same—disinterested—and I thought it would be a disaster. Then he averaged 112 and blew everyone away.”

In Berlin, Littler was heavily booed by the German crowd, something that clearly got under his skin. “It almost felt like he didn’t want the German fans to have the chance to see him play twice. You could really see the irritation after the match,” Van der Voort added.

“It’s surprising to see him let it affect him like that,” he continued. “What’s also striking is how in some venues the whole crowd seems to turn against him, while in others they’re completely behind him. Like this Thursday, when the Premier League hits Littler’s hometown of Manchester—unless, of course, it’s packed with Man City fans,” he joked, referencing Littler’s well-known support for Manchester United.

Despite the criticism, Van der Voort also offered some perspective. “He’s still just an 18-year-old. That’s important to remember. You can’t expect him to be consistent all the time. Sure, there are things he does that people don’t like, but let’s be clear—he’s still getting top marks overall.”

On a lighter note, Van der Voort responded to recent comments from Nathan Aspinall, who suggested Littler should start enjoying a drink now that he’s of legal age. “That would save him a lot of money,” Van der Voort laughed. “But no, let him stay sober and make smart choices.”