The fallout from the on-stage incident between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen continues to dominate darts discussions, with former pro Vincent van der Voort offering sharp criticism of Littler's management and conduct. Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, Van der Voort noted that the altercation overshadowed Gerwyn Price's brilliant performance on the night, becoming the main topic in press conferences, English and Dutch newspapers, and social media. "The whole evening ended up being about that incident. Normally it's about the winner," he said, adding that the PDC was likely quite happy with the rivalry it sparked.
The incident occurred during the decisive phase of their match, with the score at 5–5. Van Veen missed a 134 checkout on double 7 with one dart, after which Littler stepped up for 90 to win. Littler hit triple 20, then went inside on 15, leaving double 15 but hitting single 15. Van Veen turned away and saw Littler gesture to the crowd as if to say, 'I'm getting another chance.' Van der Voort analyzed that Littler then reacted too aggressively afterwards, making it bigger than needed, and gave a quick 'Kevin handshake' after the match without looking at Van Veen.
Van der Voort believes the incident was blown up further by Littler's behavior on social media, where he continued to show off his wins. "If Littler had just said afterwards, 'That wasn't smart,' it would've been nothing," Van der Voort stated. "But then he continues on social media... he's still a kid." He pointed to a broader issue, suggesting Littler might not have the right people around him to advise him, remarking, "Someone should just take his phone away for a bit—it's not that complicated." In contrast, he praised Van Veen's mature response, staying calm in interviews and clearly articulating his position.
Despite the commotion, Van der Voort sees rivalry as fuel for the sport, comparing it to football tensions like Rangers vs Celtic or Ajax vs Feyenoord. He emphasized that Littler, at 19 years old, is competing at the top level among adults and will be judged as one, warning that when results drop, the pressure can affect him similarly to Gerwyn Price's experiences with hostile crowds. However, Van der Voort expects the situation to resolve quickly without a reconciliation talk, stating firmly, "No way... It'll fizzle out on its own."
