‘There’s always negativity’ – Luke Littler reveals struggles not ‘biting back’ at critics after World Darts Championship

Luke Littler has admitted he had to learn not to “bite back” at critics following his rapid rise to the top.

The world No.1 opened up about dealing with negativity from fans and social media, revealing it was especially tough in the early stages of his career.

Littler, now 19, famously reached the PDC World Darts Championship final at just 16 on debut and has since gone on to win twelve major titles.

However, he says he has now developed the mindset needed to ignore outside noise and stay focused on his game.

Speaking on the The Wayne Rooney Show, Littler said: “There’s always negativity in sport — not just darts, but football and everything else.

“Some people will like you, others won’t, and that’s just how it is.

“The fans who pay to come and watch us play mean the most. They want to see good darts, and we’re all out there competing to win.”

He also admitted that handling social media criticism was difficult at first.

“After my first World Championship, it was hard not to react to what people were saying,” he explained. “But now, I just leave it. I’ve got used to it.”

The Warrington star believes missing out on the world title in 2024 — when he lost to Luke Humphries — may actually have helped him in the long run.

“I think if I had won it on debut, it would have been crazy,” he said. “Even my mum and dad said afterwards they were glad I didn’t, because it could have been overwhelming.”

Since then, Littler has gone on to win back-to-back world titles, firmly establishing himself as one of the sport’s leading figures.

He has also faced criticism from crowds at times, including during the World Championship, where he responded to jeers after beating Rob Cross.

“Can I say one thing?” he told the crowd. “You guys pay for tickets and my prize money — thank you.”

More recently, Littler drew attention during a Premier League clash with Gian van Veen, appearing to celebrate his opponent’s miss and making a gesture towards the crowd.

Van Veen later described the behaviour as “out of order” and suggested relations between the pair could remain tense.

Littler, however, clarified that his reaction was directed towards his girlfriend and her father, rather than his opponent.