Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy, faced a barrage of verbal abuse from the crowd during his victorious campaign at the 2025 Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong, where he clinched the title with an 8-4 win over Mike De Decker. The young star, already a PDC World Champion and World Matchplay titleholder, was forced to confront heckling without external support, showcasing his mental resilience and skill under pressure.
From his opening match against New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, which he narrowly won 6-5 in a final-leg decider, Littler endured taunts from a vocal section of the crowd. Spectators to his right shouted “rubbish, rubbish” whenever he missed a treble, with one fan even branding him “washed”—a term implying he was past his prime. The heckling intensified during the final against De Decker, but Littler remained unfazed, later stating, “Someone in the crowd said I’m ‘washed’—I’m not sure exactly what he meant by that, but this [trophy] is my response. The darts did the talking.”
Littler’s ability to handle the jeers highlighted a maturity beyond his years. He explained his approach: “The first time I hear something, I might react, but then I’ll just let it go and hopefully allow my darts to do the talking. No one has been teaching me how to deal with it. When you’re on that stage, you’re alone, and no one else is going to help you. You’ve just got to get on with it.” This lack of external guidance underscores the solitary nature of professional darts, where mental fortitude is as critical as technical skill.
The Australian Darts Masters victory marked Littler’s fourth World Series title and his first of the 2025 season, following a challenging five-month title drought. His path included a 6-3 quarter-final win over local favorite Damon Heta and a 7-4 semi-final victory against Stephen Bunting, before dominating De Decker in the final. The win was particularly sweet after last year’s 8-1 thrashing by Gerwyn Price in the same event’s final, which Littler cited as motivation: “Losing any final motivates you and makes you want to come back and go one step further.”
Controversy also arose during Littler’s first-round match against Puha, where he was criticized for a “disrespectful” tactical move. Leading 5-4 and needing 291 points, Littler deliberately hit a single 1 after two treble 20s to set up a potential 170 “Big Fish” checkout, rather than completing a 180. The attempt missed, allowing Puha to force a deciding leg. Fans on X slammed the move, with one user, @Wim_NL180, posting, “Single 1 on 171 on purpose to leave 170 is just disrespectful towards your opponent imo.” Another, @DanJones3142, questioned, “How are people defending this? He’s playing professional darts and it’s obviously not playing to the best of your ability.” Littler later admitted uncertainty about the decision, saying, “Maybe I should have tried to hit the 180… But I just felt I’d try and leave it and finish it.”
Despite the criticism and crowd hostility, Littler’s performance spoke volumes. He expressed newfound confidence, stating, “This is the most confident I’ve felt in a very long time… I’ve got that winning feeling back in me.” His recent World Matchplay triumph and this Australian success have positioned him as the odds-on favorite to defend his PDC World Championship title in December, where a historic £1 million prize awaits.
As Littler prepares for the New Zealand Darts Masters, his ability to thrive under pressure—both from opponents and hostile crowds—solidifies his status as a generational talent. With no one to lean on during the storm of heckling, Littler let his darts do the talking, proving that at just 18, he’s far from “washed.” For more details, check coverage from sources like Express.co.uk or Sky Sports. If you have a specific article or additional details to share, let me know, and I can tailor the response further!
