Emotional commentator left fearing for Luke Littler after ‘absolutely out of order’ incident at World Cup of Darts
Belgian VTM commentator Rudy Lanssens expressed deep concern for 18-year-old Luke Littler, fearing the darts prodigy may never return to Germany after facing relentless booing from the crowd during England’s 8-4 second-round loss to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko at the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt on June 14, per The Irish Sun. Lanssens called the fans’ behavior “absolutely out of order,” stating, “This wouldn’t happen in Belgium – at least not so obviously and unsportingly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Luke Littler never sets foot in Germany again. The PDC has to step in – this is completely unacceptable,” per Darts News.
Littler’s Struggles in Hostile Atmosphere
Littler and world No. 1 Luke Humphries, both fresh off receiving MBEs, were pre-tournament favorites but faltered under pressure, hitting only 36.36% of their doubles (4/11) with averages of 92.22 and 94.82, respectively, per Sky Sports. Littler, visibly rattled, missed three darts at a double in the fifth leg, allowing Pietreczko’s 106 checkout, and stormed off stage post-match without Humphries, per Daily Mail. Fellow commentator Erik Clarys emphasized Littler’s youth, noting, “He’s still so young. Everywhere else, he’s celebrated – but here in Germany, he’s being booed from start to finish. You can’t imagine the effect this has on young players,” per Darts News.
Context of Littler’s German Struggles
Littler’s difficulties in Germany predate this event. In 2024, he lost an 8-5 lead to Peter Wright in the German Darts Championship final amid boos, and in April 2025, he fell to Gian van Veen in the Munich Grand Prix semi-final, later posting, “Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway,” per SPORTbible. He also faced hostility in Berlin’s Premier League night, losing 6-2 to Chris Dobey, per SPORTbible. Littler admitted to channeling frustration like Gerwyn Price, saying, “I go on Instagram, have a bit of a moan and take it down half an hour later,” per GB News.
Broader Reactions and PDC’s Role
Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle suggested Littler and Humphries “buckled” under pressure, while Gerwyn Price criticized their lack of “team ethic,” per The Irish Sun. X posts, like @Mysstree’s, noted the PDC’s inaction on crowd behavior, warning Littler’s global fame could force regulatory scrutiny, per Darts News. Schindler distanced himself from the booing, saying, “We don’t approve the whistling,” but praised Germany’s performance, per Sky Sports. As Littler skips upcoming Players Championships, the incident raises questions about his resilience and the PDC’s handling of fan conduct, per PDC.
