Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation and 2025 PDC World Champion, clinched his first World Series title of the season at the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong on August 9, 2025, defeating Mike De Decker 8-4 in the final with a 103.2 average and five 180s, per Sky Sports. However, his victory was overshadowed by a fiery response to taunts from the Australian crowd, who heckled him throughout the tournament, particularly during his tense 6-5 first-round win over New Zealand’s Haupai Puha.
In his post-match interview with Online Darts, Littler addressed the crowd’s behavior, saying, “There was a group to my right… every time I didn’t hit a treble they were like ‘rubbish, rubbish’. Someone said I was washed. Not sure what he meant, obviously I’m washed but I just won.” His sarcastic retort came after a controversial moment in the Puha match, where he deliberately threw a single one to set up a 170 “Big Fish” checkout, a move labeled “disrespectful” by Rob Cross and fans on X like @Wim_NL180, who argued it belittled Puha, a tour card holder. Littler explained, “I don’t even know—I think it’s just for myself. Maybe I should’ve tried hitting the 180 because I knew Haupai had the darts for the last leg,” per Express.co.uk.
The crowd’s hostility intensified Littler’s challenges, compounded by jet lag and minimal practice, as he admitted to ITV X, “Not much practice has been put in, body clock, not sleeping, it has an effect.” Despite this, he rallied, defeating Damon Heta 6-3 and Stephen Bunting 7-4 en route to the final, avenging his 8-1 loss to Gerwyn Price in the 2024 final. Sky Sports announcer Russ Bray criticized Littler’s complaints, saying, “Woe is you, Luke. Stop moaning and act like a world champion,” per Express.co.uk, sparking debate among fans.
Littler’s resilience shone through, with his £60,000 prize boosting his 2025 earnings, which include six major titles like the World Matchplay, per msn.com. As he prepares for the New Zealand Darts Masters (August 15-16) against Jonny Clayton, Littler’s ability to thrive under pressure, as praised by @DartsInsider on X, positions him to chase further World Series glory. His fiery response to the crowd underscores his confidence, but the controversy highlights the scrutiny he faces as darts’ biggest star.
