Luke Littler speaks out as “worst crowd in history” ruins premier league darts final as referee forced to intervene

Luke Littler hit out at one of the worst crowds in Premier League Darts history after sections of the Glasgow OVO Hydro turned Night Two of the 2025 season into an embarrassment — with match referee Kirk Bevins forced to grab the microphone and demand silence mid-final.

Littler had already beaten Rob Cross in a 6-5 comeback from 5-1 down in his quarter-final, and then dispatched Michael van Gerwen in the semi-finals, before facing world number one Luke Humphries in a rematch of the previous year’s final. But what should have been a marquee darts occasion descended into chaos.

Whistling was repeatedly heard from sections of the crowd at the OVO Hydro, forcing referee Kirk Bevins to intervene and call for order on multiple occasions. The disruption began during the semi-final between Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price — with Price eventually reaching his limit. After hitting a 180, “The Iceman” turned and whistled back at the crowd as Humphries jokingly put his fingers in his ears.

When Littler and Humphries took to the stage for the final, it got worse. Both players were in the ninth leg of their deciding match when referee Kirk Bevins had to address the crowd to stop their high-pitch whistling. Humphries had won the opening night in Belfast the week before and held his nerve to win the controversial leg — but ultimately lost the match to Littler.

Littler, who eventually defeated Humphries in the deciding leg to claim the night’s title, said in his post-match interview: “It was a weird final. We both weren’t playing well. I was looking up at the screen and we both had a 90 average. Obviously the crowd got involved. Kirk made them worse and I missed my shot and Luke went 5-4 up.”

Speaking further to Sky Sports, Littler was direct about the damage the intervention caused: “Yeah, obviously, there was a few in particular that were doing it when Luke [Humphries] was throwing. Kirk [Bevins, match referee] told them to be quiet and it got even worse, and then I missed doubles and Luke breaks at 5-4. I’m just like, ‘Kirk, you’ve made it worse for me there, I’m 5-4 down.’ But I broke back and held my throw very strongly again. If it’s the same outcome as what it was when Kirk said it, then obviously just leave it. Obviously, they’ve got to step in at some point and say something. But yeah, that was pretty bad, but I got the win.”

Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle questioned why those responsible were not ejected from the venue, while Sky Sports reporter Abigail Davies was also highly critical, writing on social media: “Yet again, well done to those who paid good money to go and watch the best darts players in the world put on a show and actively contributed to them not delivering their absolute best by whistling. Really clever, that. There is no way you can be a fan of the sport if you do that.”

It was not the first time the issue had surfaced. Whistling had affected Humphries and Michael Smith during the 2024 Premier League, and it also marred the Grand Slam of Darts in November, when Mike De Decker called for Bevins to address the Wolverhampton crowd — only for his request to go ignored.

The PDC were forced to act the following day. The organisation released a statement strongly reiterating that it “does not condone any behaviour which can disrupt an event, such as whistling or booing when players are throwing”, adding that spectators who act inappropriately can be removed from venues and that it would continue to work with Premier League venues to take “proactive and decisive action” against those who behave inappropriately.