Luke Littler, 19, Slams ‘IDIOT’ in World Masters Darts Crowd as Rival Backs World Champion in Row
Luke Littler has condemned a persistent heckler who disrupted his World Masters second-round victory over Ross Smith, with his opponent confirming the troublemaker’s behavior was so blatant that both players noticed it throughout their entire match.
The Confrontation
The world champion stormed into the quarter-finals with an emphatic 4-1 triumph over Smith at Arena MK in Milton Keynes on Saturday evening, but the comprehensive scoreline masked significant disruption from a spectator positioned at the front of the crowd near the stage.
Littler was seen glancing toward the source of the interference after claiming the opening set, visibly aware of the ongoing disturbance but determined not to react. The 19-year-old later revealed the full extent of the problem and directly labeled the individual responsible.
“Obviously, it’s the tournament I’ve not won and like I said yesterday, just keep your head down, don’t react to anything,” Littler explained after the match. “A few things in the crowd again at the very front. And even Ross said when we went off at 3-1, he’s an idiot, that guy, whoever it was. I didn’t know who it was, but it was just throughout the game.”
Smith’s Confirmation
The fact that Smith felt compelled to comment on the situation revealed just how obvious and disruptive the heckling had become. For a player to acknowledge crowd interference against their opponent—particularly when losing heavily—speaks to behavior that crossed well beyond acceptable boundaries.
“So even Ross obviously seen it, but like I said at the Worlds, just don’t react and get the job done,” Littler added, crediting his opponent’s sportsmanship in recognizing the problem.
Both players refused to allow the distraction to derail their performances, maintaining professional focus throughout an increasingly uncomfortable encounter. Still, the incident highlighted yet another chapter in the growing narrative of crowd hostility that has followed Littler throughout recent tournaments.
Security Involvement
Venue security approached Littler following the second set to inquire about what had been said, indicating officials were aware of the situation and monitoring events. However, the teenager characteristically downplayed the incident, keen to avoid escalating matters or allowing it to overshadow his performance.
Despite the interference, Littler produced darts of the highest quality. His average initially reached 117 before dropping by approximately 10 points as the match progressed—still an exceptional standard that left Smith admitting he’d been playing “a robot” for the first three sets.
“I think I always want to break records,” Littler reflected. “Obviously, if you put a big number in like I have just there, then that’s always a positive moving into the next round.”
The 19-year-old ultimately demolished Smith 4-1 with a tournament average of 107.88, showcasing the remarkable ability to maintain elite performance levels even under deliberate provocation.
Part of a Broader Pattern
The World Masters incident represents the latest in a series of crowd behavior issues that have dogged Littler’s recent tournament appearances, forcing the teenage sensation to develop coping mechanisms for an experience most players don’t encounter until much later in their careers—if at all.
The most notable confrontation occurred at Alexandra Palace during the World Darts Championship on December 29, when Littler faced sustained booing and jeering throughout his fourth-round victory over Rob Cross. That night, the usually composed teenager finally snapped, delivering a memorable on-stage interview that polarized opinion across the darts world.
“I’m not bothered, really not bothered!” Littler told Sky Sports after the Cross match. “Can I just say one thing? You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money, so thank you for my money! Thank you for booing me!”
The outburst was uncharacteristic for Littler, who later admitted he’d “lost” his head in the heat of the moment. “It was hostile, nobody wanted me to win, but yet again I proved them wrong,” he reflected, acknowledging the intensity of the hostile reception.
Littler’s mother Lisa later defended her son on social media, replying to critics by pointing out the absurdity of fans paying to watch someone only to boo them throughout the match.
The Wayne Rooney Moment
In a peculiarly timed coincidence, Littler revealed he’d stumbled across footage of Wayne Rooney’s infamous 2010 World Cup outburst—where the England striker sarcastically thanked fans for booing the national team—just hours after his own Alexandra Palace confrontation.
“Well I mean, you’ve seen it with Wayne Rooney. That clip, it was at the World Cup or something, nice to see the fans boo or something,” Littler explained. “I seen that on my TikTok, literally, I’d say a few hours after the Rob Cross game, which is pretty crazy.”
The parallel provided perspective for the teenager, who realized professional athletes across all sports have faced similar situations. The reference also offered a masterclass in handling adversity—Rooney’s defiant response became an iconic moment rather than a career-defining controversy.
Learning From Experience
By the time Littler arrived at the World Masters, he’d clearly processed the Alexandra Palace experience and formulated a more mature approach to crowd hostility. His response to the Milton Keynes heckler demonstrated growth—acknowledging the problem privately rather than confronting it publicly, letting his darts do the talking, and crediting his philosophy of “just don’t react and get the job done.”
Speaking before his opening match against Mike De Decker—where he also faced some jeers during his walk-on—Littler offered insight into his evolved mindset.
“In my head now, I think people want to see new winners. I think people are getting bored of me and Luke [Humphries] and Gian [van Veen] winning,” he suggested, attempting to rationalize the hostility he’d been experiencing.
The comment revealed both maturity and naivety. Maturity in recognizing that sustained success inevitably breeds resentment among sections of any fanbase. Naivety in thinking the solution is simply explaining why fans might feel that way, rather than accepting it as an unavoidable reality of sporting dominance.
“Like I said, I think I learned from the Worlds, just don’t react and I’ve just got to play my darts,” he concluded, setting out his strategy for handling future incidents.
The Pressure of Being Number One
Luke Humphries, who has experienced his own periods of crowd hostility, offered a sympathetic perspective on Littler’s situation. After winning the 2024 World Championship, Humphries endured “six to nine months” of sustained booing, which he described as “really, really bad.”
“When you are a top player, I experienced it,” Humphries reflected. “It was really, really bad. I don’t really think I’ve done anything wrong. But when you’re at the top, everyone just wants to see you then fall again.”
The world number two suggested that fans struggle to relate to successful, wealthy young stars, urging supporters to “give him a little bit of leeway.” His defense of Littler after the Alexandra Palace incident—acknowledging his rival “lost his head” but insisting the 18-year-old deserves sympathy—demonstrated the solidarity that exists among elite players who understand the unique pressures of operating at the sport’s pinnacle.
The Wider Context
Crowd behavior at darts events has become an increasingly contentious issue as the sport’s popularity has exploded. The influx of new fans—many attracted by Littler’s meteoric rise—has brought different expectations and behaviors to venues that traditionally maintained a raucous but fundamentally supportive atmosphere.
The World Masters incident wasn’t even unprecedented at that specific tournament. During the February 2025 edition, referee Kirk Bevins intervened during a Littler match against Andy Baetens due to persistent whistling from sections of the crowd. ITV commentator John Rawling memorably asked: “What sort of a moron comes along to a big darts event and starts whistling?”
Individual hecklers represent a particular challenge. Unlike general crowd noise or underdog support—which players can tune out or even embrace—targeted disruption from individuals positioned close to the stage creates a psychological test that’s difficult to ignore, especially when sustained throughout an entire match.
Performance Under Pressure
What continues to amaze observers is Littler’s ability to produce world-class darts despite these distractions. His 107.88 average against Smith, achieved while consciously monitoring a heckler and discussing the situation with his opponent between sets, would represent a career highlight for most players.
The teenager’s capacity to compartmentalize external interference while maintaining focus on the technical demands of elite darts suggests a mental toughness that transcends his years. Smith’s comment about playing “a robot” for the first three sets captures this perfectly—Littler’s scoring remained clinical and mechanical even as he processed the ongoing disruption.
This resilience has become a defining characteristic of Littler’s game. Throughout the World Masters, he survived match darts against Mike De Decker and Gerwyn Price, came back from 5-4 down in the final against Luke Humphries, and navigated persistent crowd issues without allowing any of it to derail his pursuit of the title.
The Road Ahead
As Littler’s dominance continues—he’s now won four consecutive majors and sits on 11 career PDC major titles at age 19—crowd hostility is likely to remain a factor rather than disappear. Success breeds resentment in professional sports, and Littler’s youth, wealth, and seemingly effortless excellence make him an easy target for sections of any audience.
His evolving response suggests he’s learning to navigate this reality. The Alexandra Palace outburst represented raw emotion and lack of preparation for sustained hostility. The World Masters response demonstrated restraint, perspective, and a more sophisticated understanding that engaging with troublemakers only empowers them.
“Just don’t react and get the job done” has become Littler’s mantra, borrowed from his own experience and reinforced by observing how other sporting greats handled similar situations. Wayne Rooney’s sarcastic resilience, Tiger Woods’ focused intensity, Phil Taylor’s imperious indifference—all serve as templates for managing the unique pressures of sustained excellence.
The Premier League, which begins February 5 in Newcastle, will test this approach further. The 17-week road show across UK, Irish, and European venues will expose Littler to different crowds, different atmospheres, and different challenges every single week. Some venues will embrace him. Others won’t.
But if Saturday night at Arena MK proved anything, it’s that Luke Littler is learning to thrive regardless. Call him an idiot. Boo him. Support his opponents. It doesn’t matter.
The teenager will keep his head down, maintain his composure, and most importantly, get the job done. Just like he always does.
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