“We all do feel for him”: Luke Littler chimes with Jules van Dongen’s darting demons after New York win
Luke Littler, the reigning PDC World Champion, advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 US Darts Masters in New York with a commanding 6-1 victory over Jules van Dongen on June 27, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. Following the match, Littler expressed empathy for Van Dongen, who has been grappling with dartitis, a condition that disrupts a player’s ability to release the dart smoothly. Littler’s post-match comments to Online Darts, “We all do feel for him,” reflect the darts community’s sympathy for Van Dongen’s struggles, as he has been forced to adapt by throwing with his non-dominant hand to prolong his career. Littler acknowledged the mental and technical challenges Van Dongen faces, noting, “Hopefully he can overcome whatever he’s got going on.”
Van Dongen, a Dutch-born American and PDC Tour Card holder, has endured a difficult year, with his last Players Championship win dating back a year due to his ongoing battle with dartitis. This condition, often described as a psychological or neurological block, has led to a significant slump in form, prompting Van Dongen to hint at retirement after the US Darts Masters and the North American Darts Championship, where he faced Stowe Buntz. Despite the loss, Van Dongen’s single leg against Littler was a moment of pride, as Littler noted, “He got a leg against me which obviously he’ll be very proud of.” The match was sealed by Littler with a flair-filled 120 checkout, hitting three double tops to thrill the New York crowd.[](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/struggling-luke-littler-opponent-could-35461755)[](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/showbiz-luke-littler-sends-new-35466892)
Littler’s performance was not at its peak, averaging 92.16 compared to Van Dongen’s 73.75, but he described the game as one professionals aim to “get through” to reach the next round. His empathy for Van Dongen was echoed by others in the darts community, with Vincent van der Voort suggesting Van Dongen might benefit from a break to address his technical and mental struggles. Van Dongen’s personal challenges extend beyond the oche, as he has been dealing with his parents’ health issues, though both were able to attend the event, making it a significant moment for him. He expressed a desire to “give it one last proper go” for his family, despite his struggles.[](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/struggling-luke-littler-opponent-could-35461755)[](https://dartsnews.com/pdc/i-want-to-show-my-children-that-im-a-champion-but-maybe-this-is-about-perseverance-jules-van-dongen-opens-up-about-struggles)
The US Darts Masters saw other notable results, including Danny Lauby’s stunning 6-0 upset over defending champion Rob Cross, setting up a quarter-final clash with Luke Humphries, who had been dealing with a thumb injury from a fan incident during his walk-on. Littler, advancing to face Nathan Aspinall, remained focused on capitalizing on the electric atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, which he described as “unbelievable” based on Humphries’ comments. His win and compassionate remarks highlight both his dominance and his understanding of the sport’s human side, particularly in light of Van Dongen’s challenges.
