“I’ve got a bit of flu, but we have to carry on” – Luke Littler offers explanation for defeat in Antwerp

Luke Littler has revealed that he was dealing with flu symptoms during Night 2 of the Premier League Darts in Antwerp. The 19-year-old Englishman had another mixed evening, yet still managed to secure his first win of the season.

In the quarterfinals, Littler saw off Luke Humphries to claim his first victory of the Premier League 2026 campaign. In the semifinals, however, a rejuvenated Michael van Gerwen proved too strong. The Dutchman knocked out Littler before later losing the final to Gerwyn Price.

Afterwards, Littler candidly admitted he wasn’t at full fitness at the oche. "A bit of flu going on but this is darts, we’ve just got to get on with it," he said. "My game at the minute is going well, playing well. Last week didn’t go to plan but it’s a fresh week."

Despite the physical discomfort, Littler still showed flashes of his top form. Against Humphries he was sharp on the doubles and steady in scoring. In the semifinals, however, he couldn’t maintain that level against a strong-performing Van Gerwen.

The teenage sensation sounded anything but concerned. "Everyone knows, I’ve said it for the past two years, I’ve won both European tours in Belgium, get a Premier League here. The PDC have sorted it.” he joked, referring to his happy memories on Belgian soil.

After two match nights, Littler is not yet at the top of the table, but according to experts there’s no reason to panic at all. Sky Sports analyst Laura Turner called for calm, both for Littler and Humphries. “I think that just is a testament to how tough this tournament is," said Turner. “One or two small slips, if you're not feeling 100 per cent, anything can happen in these tournaments, and then you start thinking."

In her view, it’s far too early to draw conclusions. "They are not going to start panicking yet, as this is just week two."