Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation and World No. 2, vented his frustration on Instagram after a tense encounter with a fan outside his hotel in Prague on September 5, 2025, ahead of the Gambrinus Czech Darts Open. The teenager, accompanied by his father Anthony Buckley, arrived late—around 11:20 PM local time—and was initially accommodating to a group of fans seeking photos and autographs. However, the situation escalated when one individual allegedly grabbed him from behind as he attempted to leave, while another shouted at him and his dad, accusing Littler of “bad behaviour” and claiming he was “no better than anyone else.”
In a lengthy Instagram post, accompanied by a photo of his hotel room, Littler expressed his anger: “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 incident is not isolated for Littler, who has faced escalating fan hostility amid his rapid rise. In March 2024, he was grabbed by his throwing arm by a fan in Belfast during a Premier League walk-on, leaving him “hurt” and shaken before winning the night. He has also endured booing from German crowds at events like the World Cup of Darts in June 2025, where England lost 8-5 to Germany in the final despite leading 5-2, prompting Littler to smash a chair and vow to “never play in Germany again.” Although he ended his boycott for the Czech Darts Open—held at Prague’s PVA Expo—he plans to compete in the German Darts Championship in Hildesheim next month, with enhanced security, including a bodyguard, to manage his growing fame.
Despite the disruption, Littler channeled his focus on the oche, defeating Cameron Menzies 6-2 in the second round on September 6 with a 98.92 average, including a 167 checkout, to advance to the last 16 against Gian van Veen. The £175,000 tournament, where Littler is seeded No. 2, features a strong field including World No. 1 Luke Humphries (defending champion), Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price. Littler’s 2025 season remains stellar, with titles at the World Matchplay, Australian Darts Masters, New Zealand Darts Masters, and last week’s Flanders Darts Trophy, narrowing the PDC Order of Merit gap to Humphries to £249,750.
Littler’s statement underscores the challenges of his celebrity status, with 99% positive interactions but occasional overzealous encounters. His management has since bolstered protections, ensuring he can continue his pursuit of the world No. 1 spot and a potential back-to-back European Tour title.
