"You can't be everyone's favourite and he certainly not a favourite in Germany" – Luke Littler is set for a hostile reception on Berlin return amid boycott

Luke Littler can once again expect a hostile crowd in Berlin on Thursday. The world champion will, on Night Eight of the Premier League Darts, again face German fans who have often booed him in the past. According to former world champion Mark Webster, that comes with the territory and the young Englishman will have to learn to handle it.

Littler has voiced negative feelings about playing in Germany several times in recent years. After multiple matches in which he was jeered, he even said he was considering skipping tournaments in the country. Still, he will take to the oche this week at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, where he is chasing his third nightly title of the season.

Mark Webster believes the situation could actually provide extra motivation. "He's made it vocal he doesn't like playing in Germany," said the former Lakeside champion on the Love The Darts podcast. "This is obviously a forced one he has to go to along with the European Championship. It will be interesting to see if he plays the World Cup as well - I think he will!"

According to Webster, Littler knows exactly how to handle the atmosphere in the arena, even when the crowd isn’t on his side. "He knows how to use the crowd to fire himself up but he'll love to put in a performance and get a third nightly win in front of a crowd where he generally gets a few jeers."

The relationship between Littler and the German audience has been strained for a while. Last year he already threatened a boycott after being booed at the German Darts Grand Prix. He also encountered a hostile atmosphere on the European Tour and at other tournaments.

He said at the time that he didn’t really understand where the reactions came from. He explained that it started as soon as he stepped onto the stage, while in his view there was no reason for it. Since then, Littler has returned to Germany, including at the World Cup of Darts and the European Championship, but the crowd remained critical there as well.

Webster sees it as a logical result of the status Littler now holds. "It's part and parcel of the sport, isn't it? You can't be everyone's favourite and he certainly not a favourite in Germany."

According to the Welshman, that is actually a sign that Littler now belongs among the biggest names. Players who win a lot more often face hostile reactions, especially in countries where the audience prefers to see someone else win.

On the eighth Premier League night, Littler meets Stephen Bunting in the quarterfinals. If he wins, he takes another step toward the Play-Offs and could claim his third nightly title of 2026.

There are more marquee clashes on the Berlin bill. Leader Jonny Clayton faces Josh Rock, while Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen meet. Gerwyn Price takes on Gian van Veen for a place in the semifinals.