Luke Littler opens up on pre-match mind games with Michael van Gerwen
PDC
Luke Littler has given insight into how rival darts players, including Michael van Gerwen, try to mentally influence each other before a match. The reigning world champion discussed this on the Stick to Football podcast ahead of the ninth round of the Premier League Darts in Berlin.
Littler, who defeated Van Gerwen in the World Championship final in January, could face the Dutchman again in Thursday’s semi-final—provided they both win their opening matches against Chris Dobey and Gerwyn Price, respectively.
When asked about his relationships with other players on the PDC Tour, Littler said he has a particularly good connection with Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey, as they share the same management team. However, the dynamic is different with players like Van Gerwen and Luke Humphries. "I travel with Nathan Aspinall, Chris Dobey - we've got the same management team," Littler said. "But with the likes of van Gerwen, Luke Humphries we'll talk in the practice room, we'll have banter, try and get in each other's heads a bit. Just make it fun in the practice room."
Former professional footballer Gary Neville compared this to the atmosphere in a football tunnel before a match, prompting Littler to share an anecdote about his usual bull-game with Van Gerwen before a contest.
"Van Gerwen, obviously we throw for bull before we go on stage. So he throws first and every time I'll go over to him he'll be like 'I'm ready for the bull'. [Littler replies] 'are you Michael, yeah?' And he'll go 'how many you want? Three darts, six darts before we throw for the bull?' I go 'I'll have nine, Michael' as we always have nine. I always win the bull every time! I've been thinking next time I'll say 'you know what Michael, I'll have eight darts'."
Littler then joked that next time, he might ask for just eight darts to see how Van Gerwen reacts. The young Englishman defeated Van Gerwen only two weeks ago in Cardiff, in the final of the seventh round of the Premier League. That match ended in a 6-4 victory for Littler, who produced a nine-darter in the fourth leg, hitting back-to-back 180s followed by a 141 checkout with treble 20, treble 17, and double 15.
Neville noted that Van Gerwen did not look too happy after that perfect leg. "That's typical Michael," Littler laughingly replied to the former Manchester United defender's question.
Who are you backing in Berlin on Night Nine of the 2025 Premier League? 👀 pic.twitter.com/1jdyMxqIOy
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) April 3, 2025
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- The Premier league has literally become a pantomime with a hero and villain, all thats needed is an older dart player in drag to play the joke old woman / queen and a younger woman to play the male hero. Barry is probably working on it now.Mysstree04-04-2025
- Ridiculous the booing for both these players in the final in Germany tonightListerAnderson03-04-2025
- May only have won two PDC Majors but thats two more than most players will ever win. He wasn’t lucky either to beat Taylor and MVG, he outplayed them.Mysstree29-03-2025
- Bunting is having a nightmare.Mysstree28-03-2025
- The next prodigy (prodigies) are just round the corner. Wonder if it gets to the stage of 180 after 180 being hit leg after leg whether there will be a modification to the equipment such as reduced doubles and trebles, reduce the size of the board or length of the oche?Mysstree25-03-2025
- obviously littler has the potential to surpass everybody simply because nobody has been this good at this age before, but people who think he would be any kind of favourite right now against prime taylor in a big final have short memories. it's obvious that prime taylor wouldn't win as many world titles if he was playing today, but there's also good reason to believe he'd be winning more than anybody else. hell, his statistical profile still stands alone in darts history and he might statistically be even better if he was playing today with better equipment, larger beds, more competition therefore more motivation, etc.colt24-03-2025
- Bad idea. Every other Major ranking title prize funds added together do not come to £1 million. Add £500k to the prize pot and spread it out evenly over the draw.Mysstree24-03-2025
- Jake Paul is an arrogant American attention seeker. It would be nice to see - Usyk knock the arrogance out of him... but take his time in doing so.MrYnyslas197123-03-2025
- The Premier League is a glorified promotional tool for piss heads to attend and shout abuse at dart players so averages are not the way to pick the best line up. Throw Peter Manley, Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson into the mix for some real fireworks.Mysstree22-03-2025