Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation and World No. 2, released a strongly worded statement on Instagram after being grabbed from behind by an overzealous fan upon arriving at his hotel in Prague on September 5, 2025. The incident occurred late at night—around 11:20 PM local time—as Littler, accompanied by his father Anthony Buckley, checked in ahead of the Czech Darts Open, where he is seeded second and set to face Cameron Menzies in the second round on September 6.
Littler, fresh off a string of victories including the World Matchplay, Australian Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters, and the Flanders Darts Trophy last week, was surrounded by fans eager for photos and autographs. He obliged several requests but became enraged when one individual physically pulled him back for a picture as he attempted to leave. Additionally, another fan shouted “oi” at him and his dad before accusing Littler of “bad behaviour” and claiming he was “no better than anyone else.”
In his Instagram post, accompanying a photo of his hotel room, Littler vented: “Just came to the hotel in Prague, got a few pictures bearing in mind it’s 20 past 11 here. It’s busy so got a few pictures with a few people and as I’ve gone to walk off someone has grabbed me and wanted a picture, you don’t grab someone just ask nice how hard is it.” He continued, targeting the critic: “And for the fella who came up to me and my dad shouting oi and then saying my behaviour is bad and I’m not bigger and better than anyone. DO NOT GRAB ME FROM BEHIND because that’s bad behaviour, not me because as soon as he’s grabbed I said do not grab me and walked away.”
The PDC prodigy, who has faced increasing scrutiny and hostility from crowds amid his meteoric rise, emphasized his willingness to engage politely but drew a firm line at physical contact. This isn’t the first such encounter; in March 2024, Littler was grabbed by his throwing arm by a fan in Belfast during a Premier League walk-on, leaving him “hurt” and shaken before he went on to win the night. He has also endured booing from German crowds at events like the World Cup of Darts in June 2025, prompting threats to boycott tournaments there, though he plans to compete in the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim next month.
Despite the off-stage drama, Littler channeled his focus on the oche, defeating Menzies 6-3 in the second round on September 6 with a strong start, building a 3-0 lead before closing out the match amid sweltering conditions at the PVA Expo. He advanced to face Gian van Veen in the third round, aiming for back-to-back European Tour titles and a £30,000 prize. Littler’s management has since bolstered security measures, including employing a bodyguard, to handle his growing fame, as reported earlier in 2025.
