Teenage world champion branded persistent heckler an “idiot” as Ross Smith agreed the interference was unacceptable
Luke Littler has revealed he branded a persistent heckler an “idiot” during his World Masters quarter-final victory over Ross Smith—with his opponent so frustrated by the disruption that he agreed with the harsh assessment.
The 18-year-old world champion powered through to the quarter-finals with an emphatic 4-1 triumph in Milton Keynes, but the match was marred by continuous interference from a fan positioned close to the stage who targeted both players throughout the contest.
“He’s an Idiot, That Guy”
Littler revealed: “Obviously, it’s the tournament I’ve not won and like I said yesterday, just keep your head down, don’t react to anything. A few things in the crowd again at the very front”.
The disruption proved so apparent that both competitors noticed it throughout the contest, leading to an unusual moment of solidarity between opponents.
Smith confirmed the extent of the problem when the pair came off stage at 3-1, directly addressing the situation with his opponent. Littler said: “And even Ross said when we went off at 3-1, he’s an idiot, that guy, whoever it was”.
The fact that Smith felt compelled to comment highlighted just how blatant the heckling had become during their encounter. Littler added: “So even Ross obviously seen it, but like I said at the Worlds, just don’t react and get the job done”.
Security Intervention
The heckling was serious enough to prompt security intervention during the match itself.
Venue security made contact with Littler following the second set to enquire about what had been said, but the darts star played down the incident.
Littler said: “I mean, obviously, if I’m winning, then it doesn’t really matter. After the second set, one of the security came over to me and said: What did he say? And I just said: Oh nothing. It doesn’t really matter. I’ve won the set, it doesn’t really matter”.
“It Could Make It Worse”
The teenage sensation expressed doubts about whether intervention from officials actually helps in such circumstances, drawing on recent experience from the Premier League.
Littler explained: “I think, obviously, it could make it worse at times,” referencing a Premier League incident involving himself and Luke Humphries when referee Kirk Bevins asked spectators to stop whistling, which only prompted more whistling from the crowd.
The comment highlighted a growing problem in modern darts—referee interventions intended to protect players sometimes have the opposite effect, emboldening troublemakers and drawing more attention to the disruption.
Pattern of Hostility
The World Masters heckling incident was far from isolated. Littler has faced hostile receptions at multiple venues throughout the 2025/26 season:
Alexandra Palace (World Championship): After his fourth-round victory over Rob Cross, Littler delivered a pointed message to booing fans: “You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize money so thank you for my money, thank you for booing me!”
Premier League in Glasgow: Crowd whistling reached such disruptive levels that referee Kirk Bevins was forced to intervene mid-match during the final against Luke Humphries.
German Darts Grand Prix: Sustained booing throughout his Munich appearance led Littler to declare on Instagram that he wouldn’t play in Germany until October’s European Championship in Dortmund.
“Just Don’t React”
Both men refused to allow the distraction to affect their performances, maintaining focus throughout the match.
Littler’s approach represents a deliberate strategy to deny hecklers the reaction they crave, even if it means enduring uncomfortable moments on stage.
The young star revealed that the disruption was so blatant that even his opponent, Ross Smith, noticed it. “A few things in the crowd again at the very front,” Littler explained. “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”.
Record-Breaking Performance Despite Distraction
Despite the interference, Littler produced a performance that nearly shattered average records, with his scoring initially reaching 117 before falling by 10 points as the match progressed.
The ability to maintain such clinical darts while dealing with persistent heckling demonstrates the mental fortitude that has made Littler a two-time world champion at just 18 years old.
Reflecting on his performance, Littler added: “I think I was 117 and then dropped down 10 points. But yeah, you’ve just got to think of it then. You’ve got the win, so that’s all that matters. It got a bit scrappy at the end there. Ross even said to me, the first three sets, I was playing a robot. Obviously, then he deserved his set and then just to close it out”.
Smith’s “Robot” Comparison
Smith’s post-match comment that Littler was “playing a robot” for the first three sets offered high praise for his opponent’s ability to shut out distractions and maintain ruthless efficiency on the oche.
The compliment carried extra weight given it came from a player who was simultaneously dealing with the same heckling while trying to mount a comeback against the world’s best player.
The PDC’s Dilemma
The incident highlights a growing problem for the PDC as darts reaches unprecedented popularity. Larger crowds and more casual fans bring increased revenue but also increased potential for disruptive behavior.
The organization issued a strong statement after the Glasgow Premier League incident, confirming it “does not condone any behaviour which can disrupt an event, such as whistling or booing when players are throwing.”
Yet as Littler himself acknowledged, referee interventions can backfire—turning isolated hecklers into crowd-wide movements as others join in to test boundaries.
The Verdict
Luke Littler’s “idiot” comment about the World Masters heckler—agreed to by opponent Ross Smith—highlights the uncomfortable reality facing the sport’s biggest star. Despite being just 18 years old, Littler has become a target for hostile crowds who view his dominance as something to be disrupted rather than celebrated.
The fact that Smith, competing against Littler and desperate for victory, still felt compelled to condemn the heckling speaks volumes about how blatant and unacceptable the behavior had become.
Littler’s decision to play down the incident to security while privately branding the heckler an “idiot” in conversation with Smith demonstrates mature judgment—he recognized that escalating the situation wouldn’t help, but he wasn’t going to pretend it was acceptable either.
As he prepares for another Premier League campaign and countless more high-profile appearances, Littler’s “just don’t react and get the job done” philosophy will be tested repeatedly. For now, at least, it’s working—he won the World Masters title and continues to dominate world darts despite the hostile atmospheres that increasingly greet him.
The hecklers may call him names, boo his brilliance, and try to throw him off. But as Ross Smith discovered while watching him “play a robot” for three sets, Luke Littler’s response is simple: win anyway, then move on. And perhaps, when the moment’s right, quietly acknowledge to your opponent that yes, that guy really was an idiot.
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