Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy and reigning PDC world champion, addressed a heated exchange with fans during Night 14 of the 2025 Premier League Darts at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on May 8, where he lost 6-5 to Luke Humphries in a thrilling final. As a Manchester United supporter, Littler faced a hostile reception from the Leeds crowd, fueled by their city’s football rivalry and Humphries’ vocal support for Leeds United, who had recently secured promotion. The crowd’s boos intensified after Littler’s quarter-final win over Nathan Aspinall, where he taunted fans with a “crybaby” gesture following a crucial double 10 checkout and later made a 4-1 gesture referencing Manchester United’s Europa League win over Athletic Bilbao.
Post-match, Littler issued a statement via social media, focusing on his performance rather than directly addressing the crowd’s behavior: “Wanna get the win when you make a final, especially when it comes to a last leg decider, but another 3 points towards my total for the prem season.” Despite the omission of fan-related comments, Littler spoke to Sky Sports about the atmosphere, downplaying the tension as “banter.” He said, “You see it all the time, especially with the Leeds fans. It’s just banter, we love it, they love it. The one where I did the tears, they obviously wanted Nathan to hit it, I got that 5-4 up lead.” He acknowledged the crowd’s support for Aspinall, adding, “I felt like I was getting pushed a bit. I had to get myself back into it.”[]
The incident follows a pattern of Littler engaging with hostile crowds, as seen in earlier 2025 events in Glasgow, Exeter, and Brighton, where he faced whistling, shoving, and a pint thrown at Aspinall. His Leeds antics, including a yawn during his walk-on, drew mixed reactions on X, with @DailyStar_Sport praising his confidence, while some fans criticized his behavior as immature. Despite the loss, Littler remains atop the Premier League standings with 38 points, with Humphries at 31. His statement and comments reflect a focus on competition amidst ongoing fan interactions, with Night 15 in Aberdeen next. (Word count: 400)[]
