‘Get out’ – Darts player squared up to Luke Littler on stage and called him arrogant in heated exchange
Luke Littler Begins Belgian Darts Open Title Defense Amid Past Drama
Luke Littler kicks off his Belgian Darts Open title defense on Saturday night, hoping for a smoother ride this time around—without any heated exchanges on the oche.
The 18-year-old sensation enters his second-round clash against Ryan Searle riding a wave of confidence. He recently claimed his maiden UK Open title and followed it up with a second Premier League night victory in Brighton on Thursday, further solidifying his status as one of darts’ rising stars.
Just two days after his thrilling UK Open triumph over Nathan Aspinall, Littler returns to action at a venue that holds special memories—having won his first-ever PDC European Tour title at the Belgian Open last year.
Revisiting Littler’s Fiery Semi-Final in Belgium
Last year’s event saw a bizarre and unexpected confrontation between Littler and Ricardo Pietreczko after the teenager secured a 7-3 semi-final victory with his trademark double 10 checkout.
As Pietreczko approached for a post-match handshake, what started as a routine moment quickly escalated. The German star aggressively stepped into Littler’s face, appearing visibly angry while still holding his hand.
A visibly confused Littler stood his ground as Pietreczko shouted at him before storming off stage. Unfazed, Littler simply responded by telling him to “get out” before celebrating with the adoring Belgian crowd.
Later, Littler took to Facebook, posting:
“No idea what I did wrong, no idea what he said. He said something then don’t do it again.”
Meanwhile, Pietreczko defended his actions, accusing Littler of arrogance and claiming he hoped the youngster would be “put in his place.”
He wrote on Instagram:
“I appreciate him a lot, that you can play such a game at such a young age. But I hope the arrogance punishes him.”
Some speculated that Pietreczko took issue with Littler’s bold checkout attempts, including an unconventional 147 finish where he attempted a triple 19, double 20, and bullseye route—but missed with his second dart.
No Rematch This Year
For those hoping for a Littler vs. Pietreczko rematch in Belgium this year, the opportunity is gone.
Pietreczko narrowly edged out Matthew Dennant 6-5 in the first round but was eliminated in the second round, falling 6-3 to Dave Chisnall.
As for Littler, his title defense begins Saturday night against World No. 19 Ryan Searle. Will the young superstar continue his winning momentum?
