“He’s left looking ridiculous” – Microphone chaos disrupts Premier League Darts semi-final in Aberdeen

What was meant to be one of the headline clashes on Night 13 of the 2026 Premier League Darts took an unexpected turn before it even got going, as Luke Littler faced Gerwyn Price in a semi-final disrupted by technical issues.

Referee Huw Ware was at the centre of the confusion when repeated microphone failures meant there was no audible scoring in the arena or on broadcast. The match had already started, but with no sound, the opening darts were scrapped and play had to be restarted once a functioning microphone was brought in.

Even after switching to a wired setup, the problems didn’t fully disappear. At the end of the first leg, Ware was again forced to change equipment mid-match, breaking the flow and visibly testing his patience. Speaking from the Viaplay studio, Marco Meijer summed it up bluntly, noting that a referee’s voice is essential — and on this occasion, it simply wasn’t working.

For a moment, attention shifted away from the action on the oche and onto the production issues unfolding behind the scenes.

Once things finally settled, the contest itself proved far more straightforward. Littler dominated, sealing a convincing 6-1 win to move into the final. He later capped off the night by defeating Luke Humphries to claim the nightly victory and climb back to the top of the Premier League table.

While the technical faults were eventually resolved, it made for a frustrating evening for Ware, who became an unlikely talking point. In a tournament known for its smooth presentation, the disruption stood out — not for altering the result, but for briefly pulling focus away from the players and onto the elements that usually go unnoticed when everything runs as it should.