Luke Littler is considering skipping future darts tournaments in Germany after a tough loss at the German Darts Grand Prix, where he was soundly beaten in the semi-finals by Dutch rival Gian van Veen.
Despite an impressive run that saw Littler knock out Cam Crabtree, Joe Cullen, and Peter Wright, the 18-year-old couldn’t keep pace with Van Veen. The Dutchman dominated with a 110.81 average compared to Littler’s 95.78, sealing a 7-4 victory with a clean double-16 finish.
Shortly after the match, Littler took to Instagram with a not-so-subtle jab:
“Shouldn’t have been in Munich but had to play anyway. Next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.”
The post all but confirmed his frustration with both the result and the reception. Littler, known affectionately as “The Nuke,” was visibly annoyed as parts of the Munich crowd cheered for his opponents throughout the tournament. He notably avoided acknowledging the fans after his semi-final loss.
This isn’t the first time Littler has clashed with the German crowd. Earlier this year, after a Premier League night in Berlin, he admitted:
“I had a little headloss moment. I just don’t get it. You do your walk-on, and then I started getting booed. It’s something we’ve all got to deal with. Obviously, the Germans mustn’t like us English.”
Littler now seems set to skip the European Darts Grand Prix, European Darts Open, Baltic Sea Open, and German Darts Championship, only planning to return for the European Tour finale in Dortmund in October.
At just 18, Littler has already proven himself a force on the darts scene. But as he navigates the pressures of fame, fierce competition, and hostile crowds, he may be setting boundaries to protect his performance and mindset
