Luke Littler makes shock appearance at £15,000 tournament after pulling out – to buy darts rival’s merch

World number one spotted browsing Gian van Veen’s stall at Robin Park despite skipping the Players Championship double-header

Luke Littler was the last person anyone expected to see at Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan this week — and yet there he was. The double world champion, who pulled out of Players Championship 9 and 10 alongside Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, turned up at the very venue he had chosen to avoid. His reason for making the trip? To browse the merchandise stall of the player he has been feuding with all week: Gian van Veen.

Littler was spotted at the venue on Monday as the PDC’s Pro Tour double-header got underway, reportedly picking up items from the Dutch star’s stand. The 19-year-old from Warrington — just a 20-minute drive from Robin Park — did not enter either of the £15,000-winner tournaments, continuing what has been described as an unofficial boycott of the non-televised Pro Tour circuit.

The timing could scarcely have been more loaded. The sighting comes just days after Littler and Van Veen’s fiery exchange at the Premier League in Manchester dominated headlines across the darts world. The world number one found himself at the centre of a storm after his heated encounter with Van Veen during their Premier League quarter-final clash at the AO Arena. Van Veen missed a match dart before turning to find Littler celebrating in front of the home crowd. Littler then missed his own chance to win the match, and Van Veen sealed the win — but not before the pair exchanged gestures that sent the darts world into a frenzy.

The fallout has been relentless. Littler faced a wave of criticism from fans after defending his behaviour during the heated clash, while Van Veen branded Littler a “bad loser” and said his conduct was “out of order”. Littler hit back on Instagram with a string of laughing emojis beneath Van Veen’s comments, and later told Sky Sports that his fist-pump was directed at his girlfriend Faith and her father — not at his Dutch opponent. He insisted there was “no need” for Van Veen to stare at him while still holding a dart in his hand.

Against that backdrop, Littler’s trip to the Wigan merch stall is either a show of extraordinary good will — or the most pointed wind-up in recent darts history.

Littler has made no secret of his distaste for the lower-tier events. Speaking last November, he said: “Everyone knows I hate the Pro Tours.” With the Premier League and other major titles demanding his attention, floor events have clearly dropped down his priority list this year. Players Championship 9 and 10 at Robin Park each carry a £15,000 winner’s prize, with a total purse of £150,000 shared across the field. For context, Littler earned £1 million for winning January’s World Championship. Just two years ago, he burst onto the professional stage at the very same Robin Park venue, capturing the title on debut and casually punctuating proceedings with a nine-darter.

Van Veen, meanwhile, was entered in both Wigan events. The reigning European champion was among the headliners at Robin Park alongside world number two Luke Humphries. He has established himself as one of the PDC’s most bankable figures in 2026, and his merchandise range has grown considerably on the back of his World Championship final appearance in January — a night that ended in a 7-1 thrashing at Littler’s hands.

Whether Littler’s visit was a gesture of respect for his rival’s commercial success, a cheeky attempt to get under Van Veen’s skin ahead of their likely rematch in Rotterdam’s Premier League this Thursday, or simply the shopping habits of a teenager who lives nearby, is anyone’s guess. The darts world, predictably, has found it hilarious.

Both players insist the rivalry is simply good for the sport. Littler said: “It gets more people watching it. Now people want to watch me and Gian. There’s obviously going to be a rivalry. He’s beaten me a few times, I’ve beaten him a few times.” Van Veen, meanwhile, said he cares “little” about what Littler thinks of him.

Given the ticket he just bought at the merchandise stall, that claim may now require some revision.