Luke Littler reveals struggles with illness as he misses out on Premier League Darts glory in Belgium

World champion admits to fighting flu symptoms during semi-final defeat to Michael van Gerwen in Antwerp

Luke Littler has revealed he was battling flu during his Premier League Darts semi-final defeat to Michael van Gerwen in Antwerp on Thursday night, as the teenage world champion’s hopes of winning the historic Belgian debut were dashed.

The 19-year-old appeared far from his usual dominant self during the 6-4 loss at the AFAS Dome, later disclosing he had been fighting illness throughout the evening in front of a sold-out crowd of 23,000 spectators.

“A Bit of Flu Going On”

Following his elimination, Littler said: “A bit of flu going on but this is darts, we’ve just got to get on with it. My game at the minute is going well, playing well”.

The admission explained why the world champion looked unusually subdued during his match against Van Gerwen, averaging just 95—well below his usual standards—and hitting only a single maximum throughout the contest.

Despite the illness, Littler refused to use it as an excuse for the defeat, instead maintaining his characteristic confidence about his overall form.

“Last week didn’t go to plan but it’s a fresh week. Everyone knows, I’ve said it for the past two years, I’ve won both European tours in Belgium, get a Premier League here. The PDC have sorted it,” Littler added.

Belgium’s Bogey Country No More?

Littler’s comments about Belgium being his happy hunting ground were accurate—he has enjoyed remarkable success in the country previously.

Littler went into Night Two in front of a sell-out 10,000 crowd at the AFAS Dome boasting an extraordinary record in Belgium, having won back-to-back European Tour titles in Wieze as well as lifting last year’s Flanders Darts Trophy in Antwerp.

However, his Premier League debut in the country didn’t follow the script, as he fell to Dutch opposition for the second consecutive week.

The Van Gerwen Defeat

Van Gerwen struck first, breaking Littler’s throw immediately with double 10, though the teenager responded in kind to restore parity.

Littler edged ahead following a clinical 107 checkout on double 16, but the Dutchman drew level before breaking again to lead 3-2 after Littler narrowly missed the bullseye for a 170 finish.

The pattern continued with both players trading breaks, reaching 4-4 before the crucial moment arrived. Littler failed to convert three attempts at double six, allowing Van Gerwen to break once more and move 5-4 ahead before sealing victory on double 16.

The match highlighted the difference illness can make at elite level. While Littler still produced moments of quality, including that 107 checkout, he lacked the relentless consistency that has made him virtually unbeatable over the past two years.

Earlier Quarter-Final Success

Before facing Van Gerwen, Littler had secured his first points of the 2026 Premier League campaign with a dramatic 6-5 victory over defending champion Luke Humphries in their opening quarter-final.

Warrington’s 19-year-old world champion took some comfort from collecting two points for his 6-5 quarter-final success against Luke Humphries in Antwerp to get him off the mark in this year’s campaign.

The victory represented a crucial moment for Littler, who had opened his campaign with a shock 6-4 defeat to Gian van Veen in Newcastle the previous week.

Staying Positive

Despite the illness and the semi-final disappointment, Littler struck an optimistic tone on social media after the evening concluded.

Taking to Instagram after the evening’s action concluded, Littler struck an optimistic tone about his campaign despite the semi-final disappointment. He posted: “First points on the board and still a lot more to come this season. See you soon Scotland”.

The reference to Scotland previews Night 3 of the Premier League at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on February 19, where Littler will face Michael van Gerwen once again in what promises to be a highly anticipated rematch.

Table Standings

The loss leaves the youngster positioned in the middle of the table following the opening fortnight of competition.

After two nights, Michael van Gerwen leads the standings with eight points following his victory in Newcastle and runner-up finish in Antwerp. Gerwyn Price, who won Night Two by defeating Van Gerwen 6-3 in the final, sits second with five points.

Jonny Clayton (four points) and Gian van Veen (three points) make up the top four, while Littler and Luke Humphries are fifth and sixth on two points each. Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock remain bottom of the table with zero points.

Don’t Panic

Sky Sports pundit Laura Turner urged both Littler and Humphries not to panic after their underwhelming starts.

The advice is well-founded. Littler also lost his opening match last season to Michael van Gerwen but still cruised to Finals Night at The O2, winning a record-breaking six nightly titles before eventually losing the final to Humphries.

With 14 nights of action still remaining before the playoffs on May 28, there is ample time for “The Nuke” to recover from his slow start and climb the table.

The Illness Factor

Professional darts players traveling across Europe week after week are particularly susceptible to illness, with the combination of air travel, hotel stays, and performing in front of large crowds creating ideal conditions for viruses to spread.

The fact that Littler competed at all while feeling unwell demonstrates his commitment to the Premier League and his desire to perform for the Belgian crowd. Many players in similar circumstances might have withdrawn, but the world champion instead chose to battle through.

Looking Ahead

As Littler prepares for Glasgow next week, he’ll hope the flu has passed and he can rediscover the form that saw him dominate the 2024 Premier League season.

His record in Scotland is strong, and with a week to recover before facing Van Gerwen again, he’ll be determined to prove that Thursday’s defeat was down to illness rather than any decline in his abilities.

For now, though, Littler can take solace in the fact that he secured two valuable points against Humphries despite feeling under the weather, demonstrating the mental fortitude that has made him a two-time world champion at just 19 years old.

As he told his Instagram followers: there’s still “a lot more to come this season.” The flu may have derailed his Belgian dream, but Luke Littler’s Premier League campaign is far from over.