Darts legend Keith Deller has urged Luke Littler to 'laugh off' hostile crowd reactions, following a turbulent week for the 19-year-old world champion in the Premier League Darts. Littler faced booing and whistling on his walk-on in Brighton, responding with a hand-to-ear gesture that intensified the jeering, and posted an 83.94 average—his lowest ever in a televised match—before losing to Stephen Bunting. Deller, the 1983 world champion, told talkSPORTS that such crowd behavior is nothing new, citing examples like Eric Bristow being booed in Scotland for upsetting Jocky Wilson, and stressed that players must handle it with mental resilience.
Deller emphasized that letting the crowd affect you only worsens the situation, advising, 'I think you've just got to laugh it off really because if you start getting to it and the crowd knows that you don't like it, then you're in trouble. Because they know they're going to do it.' He noted that Bristow and Peter Manley thrived on similar reactions, with Manley often laughing it off. The tense atmosphere in Brighton stemmed from a prior incident where Littler clashed with Gian van Veen in Manchester, after Van Veen gave a disapproving look when Littler whipped up the crowd following a missed match dart, leading to public criticism and a social media war of words.
Beyond crowd dynamics, Deller pointed to jealousy as a factor, stating, 'I think there's always a little bit of jealousy. I mean Luke's now a multi-millionaire.' However, he praised Littler's impact on the sport, highlighting increased youth participation, soaring viewing figures, corporate involvement, and sold-out arenas. Looking ahead, Deller questioned Littler's long-term motivation but predicted a lucrative future, speculating, 'he could be worth, I don't know, £15million in five years or £20m in five years.' Despite the recent slump and criticism, Deller believes Littler remains a key figure in darts with a huge future ahead.
