The pair first fell out on Night Nine of the Premier League Darts in Manchester three weeks ago, when Van Veen edged a controversial win over the two-time world champion. After the match, the Dutchman accused Littler of celebrating toward the crowd when he missed crucial darts.
Since then, relations between the two have remained tense. Speaking after his Night 12 victory, Littler confirmed that there has still been no communication between them.
“No, we haven’t spoken,” he said. “But I’m not really the type of person to go up and start a conversation like that. Maybe he’s waiting for me to speak first, but that’s just not me.
“Even in the practice room, I’m usually the one people come up to—I don’t really go around chatting much.
“We can settle things on the dartboard anyway. Behind the scenes, everything has been normal. Preparation hasn’t changed. I think he’s probably forgotten about it, and I have too. If I need to talk to him, then I will.
“I don’t regret anything. I had my opinion, he has his opinion—we’re both entitled to that.
“On stage, we’ve both moved on with our games. Off stage, we haven’t spoken—but I’m sure that will happen at some point.”
Littler also had to deal with another hostile atmosphere this week as he picked up a win in Liverpool. However, he insisted it was nowhere near as intense as the reception he faced earlier in the month in Rotterdam.
“It is what it is with the crowd,” he added. “I’ve won, and now we move on to next week. Rotterdam was much louder than tonight—this was nothing compared to that.
“I just have to block it out. I was focused and I really wanted to win tonight, and I’ve done that.
“I showed last week that I can win in those conditions, and I’ve done it again. There’s no anxiety—I just expect the worst now, but it still wasn’t as bad as Rotterdam.
“That’s probably the toughest environment I’ve experienced, so it’s good to come through matches like that.”
The Premier League Darts continues next week in Aberdeen, where Littler is set to face Josh Rock in the quarter-finals, while Van Veen will go up against Jonny Clayton.
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