‘Woe is you’ – Luke Littler savaged by announcer for interview after winning Australian Darts Masters
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy and 2025 PDC World Champion, faced sharp criticism from Sky Sports announcer Russ Bray during his post-match interview after winning the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong on August 9, 2025. Littler secured his first World Series title, defeating Michael van Gerwen 8-5 in the final with a 103.2 average and a 47% checkout rate, per Sky Sports. However, Bray took issue with Littler’s comments about crowd heckling, where he recounted fans calling him “rubbish” and “washed” after missing trebles during his 6-5 first-round win over Haupai Puha, per @DartsNow_ on X.
In the interview with Online Darts, Littler said, “There was a group to my right… every time I didn’t hit a treble they were like ‘rubbish, rubbish’. Someone said I was washed. Not sure what he meant, obviously I’m washed but I just won.” Bray, visibly irritated, responded on air, “Woe is you, Luke. Stop moaning about the crowd and focus on your game. You’re the world champion, act like it,” per Express.co.uk (August 9, 2025). Bray’s rebuke, echoed by @DailyStar_Sport on X, labeled Littler’s remarks as ungracious, especially given the crowd’s overall support, which Littler himself acknowledged boosted his performance.
The criticism followed Littler’s controversial attempt at a 170 “Big Fish” checkout against Puha, which drew accusations of disrespect from Rob Cross, who called for PDC action, per sport-fury.com. Littler’s interview comments were seen as deflecting from his victory, which included a 7-5 quarterfinal win over Rob Cross and a 7-3 semifinal rout of Damon Heta, per dartsnews.com. Fans on X were divided: @Wim_NL180 praised Littler’s resilience, saying, “He’s 18 and handling this pressure like a veteran,” while @DanJones3142 criticized, “Moaning about a few hecklers when you’re winning is weak.”
Littler’s triumph, earning him £60,000, marked a significant milestone after his 2024 Australian final loss to Gerwyn Price. Despite Bray’s outburst, Littler’s focus now shifts to the New Zealand Darts Masters (August 15-16), where he faces Jonny Clayton, aiming to build on his six 2025 titles, including the World Matchplay and Premier League, per BBC Sport. Bray’s “woe is you” jab underscores the intense scrutiny Littler faces, but his ability to channel criticism into performance, as seen in his 29 maximums at the Matchplay, suggests he’s poised to continue his ascent.
